Sharia-Free Comments Spur Outcry at Texas GOP Convention

At least four Muslim members of the Texas Republican Party shared their experience at the state’s Republican convention over remarks they described as Islamophobic.

“When they say Sharia-free, that means Muslim-free, no practices of Islam,” Mohamed Hussein, an attendee, told The Texas Tribune. “No one is calling for the state to implement Sharia laws.”

Hussein said he was in disbelief that he was told to convert or leave—for the first time in his life.

“Unity Drives Victory,” a slogan touted by the governor on press releases, placards, lanyards, and even the elephant he procured to march through the convention hall, became a rallying cry for the state’s leaders and party nominees.

If the party becomes fractured, Republicans could lose to the Democrats and their U.S. Senate nominee, state Rep. James Talarico.

On Saturday, the last day of the convention, outgoing GOP Chair Abraham George addressed two Muslim delegates from the stage, whom members tried to expel from the convention because of their ties to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a group the GOP and Gov. Greg Abbott have deemed a terrorist threat.

“I would strongly advise you to leave our caucus,” George said, the Texas Tribune reported. “There is a Democrat convention happening in a couple weeks. Join them. There’s no place in America for you.”

Also on Saturday, Hussein attended a panel from the Judeo-Christian Caucus moderated by Dr. Rick Scarborough, a former Southern Baptist pastor and the president of Recover America, an organization that engages ministers and pastors in politics.

Speakers told the audience that immigrants who don’t believe in Judeo-Christian values will erode those values and create problems for America.

Scarborough accused Muslims of lying to win political power. According to the Texas Tribune report, State Sen. Bob Hall also said Muslims are “required by Sharia to lie” to “stay below the radar of being aggressive.”

Hussein replied that the attendees were told lies about Sharia throughout the convention, and that he was practicing Sharia peacefully at that very moment, Texas Tribune reported.

“When they tell you that we’re compelled to lie, they are putting your Texan neighbors in an impossible position where nothing that we can say or do can absolve us from the crimes that they are accusing us of,” Hussein told the crowd. “That is not just. The Bible commands you to be just, and that is not American.”

Sharia is generally interpreted as the framework, or laws, for how Muslims should live their lives. The code calls for fasting, daily prayer, modest dress, and charity.

Sharia law, however, has attracted controversy over its perceived ties to strict enforcement of religion, female genital mutilation, hatred toward non-Muslims, and more.

In an interview with The Texas Tribune, Scarborough clarified, saying that “if you’re going to embrace the values and the teachings that you’re advocating for, there’s no place in America for you. That’s not assimilation. That’s taking over.”

A CAIR Chapter Founder

Hussein, who moved to Houston in 1992 with his family from Egypt, was in attendance at the convention with Tarek Hussein, his father, the founder of CAIR’s Texas-Houston chapter.

Tarek Hussein attended as a registered delegate.

Part of the scrutiny from Republicans toward the Muslim community, particularly the segment affiliated with CAIR, comes after the organization has faced criticism over its funding ties, mission statement, and recent actions.

Recently, CAIR has been accused of using its tax-exempt status to infiltrate American institutions with Sharia values and officials. The organization has also faced scrutiny for allegedly having direct ties to unidicted co-conspirators of Islamic terror attacks.

CAIR, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the governors of Texas and Florida, has also been the subject of congressional hearings this year.

The Department of Health and Human Services opened an investigation into the organization’s use of federal funds tied to Afghan refugee resettlement programs and alleged associations, examining millions of dollars in grants.

CAIR did not return the Daily Signal’s request for comment.