Governor Greg Abbott banned Sharia Law in Texas after a viral video showed an imam urging Muslim businesses to halt sales of items forbidden under Islamic law.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced a statewide ban on Sharia Law after a viral video showed Imam F. Qasim ibn Ali Khan urging Muslim-owned stores to stop selling pork, alcohol, and lottery tickets.
The footage, which circulated widely on social media, showed Khan confronting a store employee and warning that businesses violating Islamic teachings would face boycotts and protests. “We’re kicking off a national protest and demonstration campaign against all Muslim businesses that have haram in their stores,” Khan declared.
In response, Abbott said Tuesday: “I signed laws that BAN Sharia Law and Sharia Compounds in Texas. No business and no individual should fear fools like this.” His office added: “Any legal system that flouts human rights is BANNED in the state of Texas.”
Abbott appeared to reference a 2017 law barring judges from applying foreign laws in U.S. courts.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned Abbott’s remarks as “fearmongering,” noting that Sharia encompasses religious practices such as prayer, fasting, and charity.
Khan, who leads a Nation of Islam-affiliated mosque in Houston, has denied breaking the law, framing his campaign as religious outreach. Legal experts say peaceful protests outside stores remain protected under the First Amendment.