Ken Paxton
Ken Paxton is the Attorney General of Texas. Paxton has been placed on the SpotLightHate watchdog list due to a pattern of anti-Muslim rhetoric, legal actions targeting Muslim organizations, and efforts to block Muslim community projects across the state of Texas.
Islamophobic Remarks
On February 5, 2026, Ken Paxton announced a lawsuit against the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and what he called the "Muslim Brotherhood," declaring: "Sharia law and the jihadists who follow sharia law have no business being in Texas." The lawsuit sought to shut down CAIR's operations in the state entirely, preventing the organization from fundraising and recruiting members.
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This action was widely condemned by civil rights organizations as an attempt to intimidate and silence a major Muslim advocacy group. CAIR dismissed Paxton's lawsuit as a "frivolous anti-Muslim publicity stunt" that misuses taxpayer resources.
Legal Action Against CAIR
In December 2025, Paxton escalated his campaign against CAIR, announcing further legal action and labeling the organization a "terrorist organization" and "Radical Islamist terrorist groups." He stated that "the infiltration of these dangerous" groups must be stopped.
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In response to Paxton's and Governor Greg Abbott's executive proclamation labeling CAIR as a "foreign terrorist organization," Texas CAIR chapters filed a federal lawsuit challenging this designation, contending that the executive order violated constitutional rights including due process and free speech.
Opposition to Muslim Housing Development
Paxton has actively worked to block a Muslim housing development known as "EPIC City" in North Texas, led by the East Plano Islamic Center. On March 11, 2026, Paxton publicly urged local officials to reject the development, despite a Department of Justice probe finding no evidence of illegal intent by the developers.
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On March 19, 2026, Paxton went further by securing a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to stop a Municipal Utility District from supporting the EPIC City project.
Targeting Muslim Organizations
On January 6, 2026, Paxton filed a legal brief against American Muslims for Palestine and other organizations he described as "radical groups," further demonstrating a pattern of using his office's legal resources to target Muslim-led organizations.
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Discriminatory School Voucher Policies
In January 2026, Paxton's office excluded Islamic schools from participating in Texas's school voucher program, stating that "Texans' tax dollars should never fund Islamic terrorists or America's enemies." Critics argue that these allegations are unsubstantiated and reflect a discriminatory stance that unfairly stigmatizes Islamic educational institutions and the Muslim community at large.
Ken Paxton's sustained campaign of legal actions and inflammatory rhetoric against Muslim organizations, community projects, and educational institutions represents a significant pattern of anti-Muslim discrimination carried out from one of the highest law enforcement offices in Texas.
Ken Paxton Social Media Accounts:
