Governor Greg Abbott has requested an investigation into the operation of Sharia courts in Texas. The request asks local law enforcement and state agencies to review whether these religious arbitration panels are operating within legal limits and whether they conflict with state or federal laws.
The Office of the Governor stated that an alert was sent to officials in Collin and Dallas counties, members of the cabinet, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The alert calls for an investigation into potential judicial impersonation and the enforcement of rules outside the established legal framework, citing concerns that some Islamic tribunals may issue rulings that conflict with American legal due process and the constitutional separation of church and state.
In a letter, Governor Abbott stated that certain entities in Texas, including in Collin and Dallas counties, may be operating as “courts” with “judges” issuing orders that claim authority under Islamic law, potentially conflicting with state and federal laws. He emphasized that all legal disputes in Texas should be resolved under American law, regardless of religious beliefs, and called on legal authorities to review the matter, according to an official statement.
