Texas Cracks Down on EPIC’s Illegal Funeral Operations

 

A Legal Battle Unfolds Over Licensing, Sharia Law Concerns, and Community Tensions

On March 25, 2025, the Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC) issued a cease-and-desist letter to the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), ordering an immediate halt to what state officials have labeled "illegal funeral service operations." This action marks a significant escalation in an ongoing legal and political saga surrounding EPIC, a mosque tied to the controversial EPIC City project—a 402-acre planned Muslim-centric community in North Texas. The TFSC’s move, backed by Governor Greg Abbott, stems from allegations that EPIC has been operating a funeral home without the required state license, a violation of Texas law under the Occupations Code, Chapter 651. As of April 10, 2025, this incident is just one piece of a broader legal battle involving multiple state agencies, raising questions about regulatory compliance, religious freedom, and the specter of Sharia law in Texas.

The Cease-and-Desist: Why It Happened

The TFSC’s letter, detailed in a press release from Governor Abbott’s office, accuses EPIC of conducting funeral services without an establishment license, a mandatory requirement under Texas law for any entity providing such services for compensation. According to the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 651, only licensed funeral homes can legally handle the preparation, transportation, and disposition of human remains. EPIC’s license reportedly expired in 2022, and while the mosque claimed a partnership with Rahma Funeral Home—a licensed entity since 2004—Rahma’s owner, Qadeer Qazi, has publicly distanced his business from EPIC, stating there is no contractual relationship. The TFSC has referred the matter to the Collin County District Attorney for potential criminal prosecution, signaling that the state views this as more than a mere administrative oversight.

Governor Abbott framed the action as a defense of Texas law, stating, “Here in Texas, we uphold the rule of law. The group behind the proposed East Plano Islamic Center compound in Collin County is knowingly breaking state law in many ways, including by operating a funeral home without a license. This is a crime, and it will not be tolerated.” The cease-and-desist letter, issued days before the TFSC’s quarterly meeting on April 3, 2025, underscores the state’s zero-tolerance stance on unlicensed operations in the death care industry.

The Bigger Legal Battle

The funeral service crackdown is only the latest chapter in a multifaceted investigation into EPIC and its ambitious EPIC City project. Announced earlier in March 2025, a dozen Texas state agencies—including the Attorney General’s Office, the Texas State Securities Board, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality—are probing EPIC for alleged violations ranging from consumer protection breaches to potential financial fraud and environmental permitting failures. The Texas Rangers were also directed by Abbott on March 31, 2025, to investigate “potential criminal activities” tied to EPIC, though specific charges remain undisclosed as of this writing.

At the heart of the controversy is EPIC City, a proposed development in Josephine, 40 miles northeast of Dallas, featuring over 1,000 homes, a mosque, a K-12 Islamic school, and other amenities. Critics, including Abbott, have raised alarms about the project’s implications, with the governor asserting on X in February 2025, “Sharia law is not allowed in Texas. Nor are Sharia cities. Nor are ‘no-go zones’ which this project seems to imply.” This rhetoric ties into a 2017 Texas law, House Bill 45, signed by Abbott, which prohibits the use of foreign laws—like Sharia—in state courts if they infringe on constitutional rights, reinforcing that Texas operates solely under American legal frameworks.

CAIR’s Response: Deflection and Denial

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a frequent player in controversies involving Muslim communities, has not stayed silent. In a statement reported by KERA News on April 2, 2025, CAIR described Sharia as “the moral code for followers of Islam,” emphasizing its variability across sects and communities, akin to the diversity of Christian legal traditions. CAIR has dismissed Abbott’s Sharia-related accusations as baseless fearmongering, arguing there’s no evidence EPIC intends to establish a separate legal system. However, CAIR’s defense has been light on specifics regarding the funeral service allegations, focusing instead on broader claims of religious discrimination against Texas Muslims. Their response sidesteps the concrete licensing issue, offering little to counter the TFSC’s documented findings, which weakens their position in this particular dispute.

Digging Deeper: Context and Tensions

EPIC’s troubles began gaining traction in early 2025, spurred by local opposition and political scrutiny. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation into EPIC City on March 25, 2025, targeting potential consumer protection violations, while the Texas State Securities Board followed suit, examining possible financial improprieties. The Texas Workplace Commission joined in, probing whether EPIC’s housing plans violate the Texas Fair Housing Act by discriminating against non-Muslims—a claim EPIC denies, asserting it will conduct “individualized assessments” of buyers for safety, not religious exclusion.

The funeral service issue adds a tangible legal hook to what some see as a politically charged campaign. EPIC’s website once touted its partnership with Rahma Funeral Home, a claim now removed, suggesting an attempt to distance itself from the controversy. Yet, the TFSC’s action is grounded in clear regulatory authority, not conjecture. Texas law mandates licensing to protect public health and consumer trust, and EPIC’s apparent lapse—whether intentional or negligent—has handed state officials a solid basis for intervention.

Community reactions are mixed. At a Collin County Commissioners’ Court hearing on March 31, 2025, residents voiced concerns about resource strain from EPIC City, like water and emergency services, while others, including former candidate Darrell Evans, decried the investigations as targeting Muslim “ideas” rather than crimes. Meanwhile, EPIC’s leadership, via Community Capital Partners president Imran Chaudhary, has pledged cooperation with Paxton’s office, insisting the project aims for legal compliance and community integration.

Sharia Law and Texas: The Legal Reality

Abbott’s invocation of Sharia law isn’t just rhetoric—it’s rooted in Texas statute. House Bill 45, enacted in 2017, explicitly bars courts from applying foreign laws that conflict with U.S. constitutional protections. While Sharia isn’t illegal as a personal moral code, any attempt to enforce it as a parallel legal system in Texas would be void. No evidence has surfaced that EPIC’s funeral operations or EPIC City plans involve Sharia governance, but the state’s aggressive stance reflects a broader cultural clash amplified by the project’s scale and religious framing.

What’s Next?

As of April 10, 2025, EPIC has not publicly confirmed compliance with the cease-and-desist order, and the Collin County DA’s office has yet to announce charges. The overlapping investigations signal a protracted legal fight, with the funeral service violation providing a clear-cut entry point for enforcement. Whether this is a standalone regulatory issue or a springboard for dismantling EPIC City remains unclear, but Texas officials show no signs of backing down. For now, the state holds the upper hand, armed with licensing laws and a public narrative of law-and-order supremacy.

For more details on the TFSC’s authority, visit the official Texas Funeral Service Commission website. For Abbott’s statements, refer to his official press release. The saga continues to unfold, with Texas law—and not much else—calling the shots.

Disclaimer & Sources, this article reflects sentiment and opinions, not necessarily facts. Sources, links, and views may not represent the author’s personal stance. and nothing in this article should be interpreted as such and or advice, legal advice. You have read the article and by reading the article you came to your own conclusions and used your own thoughts. (Leave a comment) If you spot an error, please contact me promptly to correct it ellenniedz@gmail.com. Rights of logos placed here are for recognition for the blind or eyesight problems on this blog. 😎 You can buy me a coffee here and it's very much appreciated. Thank you

Image: file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.