Texas GOP Convention Tells 4 Muslim Attendees to Leave as Anti-Sharia Push Deepens
Updated
Updated · The Texas Tribune · Jun 15
Texas GOP Convention Tells 4 Muslim Attendees to Leave as Anti-Sharia Push Deepens
3 articles · Updated · The Texas Tribune · Jun 15
Summary
Four Muslim delegates and attendees at the Texas GOP convention said members and speakers told them to leave the party or the country, with Mohamed Hussein leaving in tears after pastor Rick Scarborough said there was “no place in America” for him.
Anti-Sharia rhetoric drove the confrontations: Scarborough and state Sen. Bob Hall told a panel Muslims use deception for political power, while outgoing chair Abraham George urged two Muslim delegates tied to CAIR to leave the caucus and join Democrats.
The hostility centered on CAIR after Gov. Greg Abbott designated the group a terrorist threat; delegates tried repeatedly to expel Tarek Hussein and Amjad Muhtaseb, but party rules did not allow their removal during the 2026 convention.
Delegates still changed the rules for 2028 so the Credentials Committee could remove delegates with ties to designated terrorist organizations, even as some Republicans warned the party was alienating conservative Muslims and undermining its own “unity” message.
As calls for faith-based governance increase, what is the future for America's religious pluralism?
When personal conviction meets public office, where is the constitutional line for religious expression drawn?
What are the core principles of Sharia, and how do they interact with U.S. civil law?
Texas Republicans in 2026: Muslim Delegate Ban, Anti-Sharia Platform, and Plummeting Muslim Support
Overview
The June 2026 Texas Republican Party Convention became a major controversy when hardline factions accused Muslim delegates of 'Islamist infiltration' and tried to expel them from the convention floor. Many Muslim delegates, shocked by these actions, faced a motion introduced by State Representative Kyle Rittenhouse to bar anyone adhering to a 'foreign legal code incompatible with the U.S. Constitution,' a move widely seen as targeting Muslims. Although the motion narrowly passed, it was partially overturned due to procedural issues. This confrontation led to swift changes in party rules, deepening divisions and sparking legal and political backlash.