How Texas Rejected an Anti-Muslim Campaign

There is a segment of the Texas population that its governor of nearly 12 years has been targeting. The Lone Star State has approximately 500,000 Muslims, according to the office of State Representative Suleman Lalani, making them merely 1.5% of its 31.7 million residents.

Somehow, soon to be former Governor Greg Abbott’s political calculus has led him to demonize this population.

From banning their celebrations in public parks, to limiting their housing options, to even attempting to prevent their washing facilities for prayers, this group has become the sacrificial lamb at the political altar.

Civil Rights Violations

The governor’s opposition to a Muslim-led housing project made national headlines. The Meadows is a 400-acre planned community north of Dallas for residential/commercial space, a faith-based school, and mosque.

To counter this housing project, Governor Abbott signed into law a bill to stop housing developments using religion “as a form of segregation.” Yet, the developers never filed for a deed restriction for a closed-off Muslim community.

Under him, the state’s Justice Department launched an inquiry on violating the Fair Housing Act, yet they had to close the investigation with no charges filed. Even a district court ruled in favor of the developers, but it came under appeal.

Moreover, Governor Abbott threatened to withdraw state funding from Texas airports if they provide ablution facilities for Muslims, calling this an illegal special treatment based on religion.

Fortunately, Houston’s mayor defended the feet washing facility at Bush Airport, displaying that some politicians will stand up for principles.

Going further, the governor threatened to terminate grants for a town north of Dallas if they continue with a Muslim celebration at a waterpark, causing local officials to cancel the event.

This took place all because a flyer advertised the event as Muslim only, although it was corrected as this referred to a modest dress code. 

Governor Abbott also declared the Council on American-Islamic Relations as a terrorist organization, as it seeks “to forcibly impose Sharia law.” This is how he described the largest Muslim civil rights group in the US.

The straw that broke the camel’s back would be when the governor proudly declared at a Republican midterm convention in Dallas: “We will fully ban Sharia law in Texas.”

Messaging from both Governor Abbot and the state’s Republican Party coalesced that sharia, Islamic practices and customs, poses an imminent threat to Texas.

As the Republican Party of Texas adopted a “Don’t Sharia My Texas,” resolution, if their electoral victories continued, some of them were set to restrict hijabs, close Islamic charter schools, and withdraw professional licenses from Muslims when the state legislature convened in January.

The Bridge Initiative, a program at Georgetown University, accurately stated that any engagement by Muslim citizens, such as public participation and community development, has been viewed as a threat by certain state politicians. Just the increased visibility of Muslims via demographic growth is seen as a problem.

This view was echoed by Mark Jones, a Rice University political scientist, who mentioned to Houston Public Media that Governor Abbott is simply responding to pressure from Texas Republicans concerned about the growth of Islam, as they do not want Christianity to erode at the cost of diversity.

Basically, a Judeo-Christian state should be preserved by any means necessary.

The Voters Respond

These blatant civil rights abuses did not go without a reaction from the Muslim community.

The Islamic Society of Greater Houston, led by Bangladeshi-origin President Emran Gazi, registered approximately a thousand voters weekly, aiming to make a difference in the political landscape. 

He even spoke at a press conference alongside local imams and community activists, calling on Muslims to vote.

Many of us turned to the Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, a state representative and native of the Texas/Mexico borderland, as the alternative. Her populist campaign against the increasing cost of living, and proposals to send $1,500 to each household as well as freezing electricity rates drew a wide swath of the public.

Record turnout by the Hispanic community, in addition to fractures in the Republican coalition due to conservative and independents’ disapproval of the Iran War and inflation caused a seismic shift during the midterm elections.

Thanks to enough votes against the incumbent governor, a little-known Democratic state representative has been elected as governor, the first from this party since 1990.

Another first since 1988, Democratic former state representative James Talarico has been elected as a US senator. Democrats gained seats up and down the ballot, gaining a majority in Texas’ lower legislative chamber.

To beat a three-term governor was certainly a Himalayan task, and now Democrats have the opportunity to remodel the state’s socio-political future.

The 2027 legislative session will look quite different, with more advocates for women’s reproductive rights, quality education for all, and an inclusiveness for the entire socio-economic spectrum.

This state has a $3.14 trillion gross domestic product, making it the second largest after California.

My family and I moved here in 1990, and I can attest to the friendliness of the people, the warmth and fertility of the ground, and a can-do spirit that can move mountains.

If this state really wants to become the best place to live, work, and raise a family, this is the Democrats’ opportunity to manifest this into a reality.

Tamim Choudhury is a public affairs specialist for an international volunteering agency. The views expressed are of his own.