Story by Germania Rodriguez Poleo
Texas governor Greg Abbott has announced a ban on Sharia Law in the state after an imam launched a campaign to pressure Muslim-owned stores to stop selling pork, alcohol and lottery tickets.
Imam F. Qasim ibn Ali Khan of Masjid At-Tawhid was seen in a viral video confronting a store employee and accusing the business of selling ‘haram’ products forbidden under Islamic law.
As a response, Abbott said on Tuesday: ‘I signed laws that BAN Sharia Law and Sharia Compounds in Texas. No business and no individual should fear fools like this.’
The governor also addressed the imam, saying: ‘If this person, or ANYONE, attempts to impose Sharia compliance, report it to local law enforcement or the Texas Dept. of Public Safety.’
In a statement, Abbott’s office added: ‘In Texas, we believe in equal rights under the law for all men, women, & children. Any legal system that flouts human rights is BANNED in the state of Texas.’
Abbott did not specify which bill he was referencing, but he signed a bill in 2017 that prohibits judges from applying any foreign law, including Muslim law, in US courtrooms.
Imam Khan, who leads a Nation of Islam-affiliated mosque in the Houston area, warned Muslim business owners they would face boycotts and public protests if they refused to comply.
In the viral video that sparked widespread outrage, he said a nationwide protest movement was set to begin specifically targeting Muslim businesses that violate Islamic teachings.
‘We’re kicking off a national protest and demonstration campaign against all Muslim businesses that have haram in their stores,’ Khan said in the video.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations slammed governor Abbott’s move, calling it ‘fearmongering’ and saying Sharia means ‘the way to water’ and compared it to Halacha for Jewish people or Canon law for Catholics.
‘When Texas Muslims pray to God five times a day, donate (to) charity, fast in Ramadan, or speak up against injustice, among many other practices, they are observing sharia,’ CAIR said.
The group said it is false that Sharia is ‘banned’ in Texas.
In several videos posted to Khan’s TikTok and his 17,000 followers, Khan was seen confronting an employee at a Muslim-owned store, warning the business was violating Islamic law by selling ‘haram’ goods – items forbidden in Islam.
‘This is the beginning of the campaign. We’re serving notice to America and the world that enough is enough,’ Khan said.
‘The people that call themselves Muslims should not be selling haram in their stores… Pork, alcohol, and gambling need to stop.’
Standing outside the storefront with printed protest signs, Khan accused Muslim merchants of betraying their faith for profit and threatened coordinated action if they don’t comply.
‘We’re kicking off a national protest and demonstration campaign against all Muslim businesses that have haram in their stores,’ he declared.
‘They have until the end of the month to change their inventory – or move to a different neighborhood.’
In the video, Khan did not deny his goals are rooted in observing the religious teachings of Islam, but insisted he is acting within the law.
He framed the initiative as a form of religious outreach – or da’wah.
Masjid At-Tawhid, the mosque from which Khan operates, is affiliated with the Nation of Islam – a controversial group whose ideology is considered extreme by many in the American Muslim community.
At present, no laws appear to have been broken by the cleric. Peaceful protests outside businesses are protected under the First Amendment, and no threats of violence have been reported.
Islam has no place in the US if it tries to impose its laws on the people here. If Muslim’s come here, they need to except that they will have to conform to our laws. Our way of life and assimilate into our society.
If they cannot do this, they need to pick a Muslim country and go there. They will not be able to move in, convert our states and create Muslim communities that go against our way of life.