While Muslims make up less than 2% of Texas’ population, GOP candidates have made the religious group the centerpiece of their campaigns this cycle, running ads and sending mailers about Sharia law and the “Islamification” of Texas. The rhetoric has spilled over into legislation and legal action, with many state leaders promising there is more to come.
Rep. Salman Bhojani, a Democrat from Euless and one of the first Muslims elected to the state Legislature, said while the undercurrent of discrimination against Muslims is nothing new, the tone and intensity has reached new heights in recent months.