Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement Tuesday reinforcing the state’s ban on Sharia Law following an imam’s viral campaign pressuring Muslim-owned businesses to remove certain products from their stores.
The controversy began when Imam F. Qasim ibn Ali Khan of Masjid At-Tawhid launched a public campaign targeting Muslim store owners who sell pork, alcohol and lottery tickets.
Khan appeared in a widely circulated video confronting a store employee and declaring these products violated Islamic law.
Abbott responded directly to the imam’s actions on Tuesday, stating he had signed laws that ban Sharia Law and Sharia Compounds in Texas.
The governor declared that no business or individual should fear what he called “fools like this.”
Abbott specifically addressed Khan in his statement, directing anyone facing attempts to impose Sharia compliance to contact local law enforcement or the Texas Department of Public Safety.
A statement from Abbott’s office emphasized Texas’s commitment to equal rights under the law for all citizens.
The governor’s office declared that any legal system that disregards human rights remains banned in the state of Texas.
Abbott referenced legislation he signed in 2017 that prohibits judges from applying foreign law, including Muslim law, in United States courtrooms.
Khan leads a Nation of Islam-affiliated mosque in the Houston area and threatened Muslim business owners with boycotts and public protests if they refused to comply with his demands.
The imam’s viral video sparked widespread reaction as he announced a nationwide protest movement 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 stated in the video.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations criticized Abbott’s response, characterizing it as fearmongering tactics.
CAIR explained that Sharia means “the way to water” and compared it to Halacha for Jewish people or Canon law for Catholics.
The organization stated that when Texas Muslims pray five times daily, donate to charity, fast during Ramadan, or speak against injustice, they practice Sharia.
CAIR disputed claims that Sharia Law has been banned in Texas.
Khan posted multiple videos to his TikTok account, which has 17,000 followers, showing confrontations with Muslim-owned store employees.
The imam warned businesses they were violating Islamic law by selling haram goods, which are 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 declared.
Khan specifically demanded that Muslim store owners stop selling pork, alcohol and gambling products.
The imam stood outside storefronts with printed protest signs, accusing Muslim merchants of betraying their faith for financial gain.
Khan threatened coordinated action against businesses that refused to comply with his demands.
“They have until the end of the month to change their inventory – or move to a different neighborhood,” the imam stated.
Khan acknowledged his goals stem from Islamic religious teachings but maintained he operates within legal boundaries.
The imam characterized his initiative as religious outreach, known as da’wah in Islamic terminology.
The Daily Mail reported that Masjid At-Tawhid, Khan’s mosque, maintains affiliation with the Nation of Islam, a group many American Muslims consider ideologically extreme.
Legal experts note that no laws appear to have been violated by the cleric’s actions.
Peaceful protests outside businesses receive protection under First Amendment rights, and authorities have reported no threats of violence.
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