The debate over Sharia law has entered the Frisco mayoral race, with candidate Rod Vilhauer making the issue part of his campaign message ahead of the May 2 election.
The race includes John Keating, Shona Sowell, Rod Vilhauer, and Mark Hill.
Vilhauer, who is running for mayor, has campaigned on preventing the influence of Sharia law in Frisco. His comments come as state and federal officials have increasingly focused on Sharia law, Islamic organizations, and Muslim-centered developments in North Texas.
State And Federal Scrutiny
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Attorney General Ken Paxton recently demanded documents from a Dallas-based Islamic tribunal as part of an investigation into its alleged use of Sharia law.
The Islamic Tribunal’s website states that it recently updated its language “to eliminate public confusion” and says the changes were “only changes in wording, not in our work.” The website says the tribunal provides “voluntary, non-binding religious guidance only” and does not replace civil courts or issue decisions with legal effect under Texas or U.S. law.
The tribunal also posted internal guidelines stating that its advisors “do not function as judges,” that participation is “completely voluntary,” and that participants remain free to consult civil courts, licensed attorneys, or counselors at any time.
Paxton also secured a temporary injunction against a municipal utility district in Hunt and Collin counties, blocking actions tied to the East Plano Islamic Center’s EPIC City development.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Gov. Greg Abbott designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations under Texas law in November, barring them from acquiring Texas land and authorizing the attorney general to sue to shut them down.
CAIR disputed the designation, calling it defamatory and saying it had “no basis in law or fact.” CAIR-Texas separately argued that efforts to ban “sharia” amount to a “direct assault” on religious freedom and are rooted in “debunked conspiracy theories.”
Vilhauer’s comments mirror concerns raised by U.S. Rep. Keith Self (R-TX), who warned in a November House floor speech that Sharia and the U.S. Constitution are “fundamentally at odds with one another.” Self argued that Sharia conflicts with American protections for free speech, religious liberty, women’s rights, and equal treatment under the law.
International Attention And Context
The issue has also drawn attention in the United Kingdom, where Sharia councils operate as advisory religious bodies rather than formal courts. Critics there have raised concerns about whether some councils pressure Muslim women in divorce, custody, and inheritance disputes or blur the line between religious guidance and civil authority.
A March documentary by GB News, Britain’s News Channel, also examined concerns over Islamic influence in North Texas, including Dallas, Irving, Frisco, and the proposed EPIC City development. The report featured interviews with residents and activists discussing questions around assimilation, local governance, and the role of religious law in Western societies.
Concerns Over Frisco
“What is happening in cities across America is well documented. Frisco is not immune, and a mayor who ignores that reality is not doing his job,” Vilhauer told The Dallas Express.
When asked to provide specific examples of Sharia law being an issue in Frisco, Vilhauer did not cite any local cases. Instead, he argued city leaders should act before such conflicts arise.
“Sharia is not a religion. It is a comprehensive legal and governing system that, by its own doctrine, does not recognize the supremacy of the U.S. Constitution or Texas law,” Vilhauer said.
He added that if elected, he would ensure city policies remain aligned with state and federal law.
“I will ensure City Hall operates with full transparency, that no city contract, policy, or practice accommodates parallel legal systems, and that Frisco’s governing framework remains rooted in Texas law and American values. Period,” Vilhauer said.
Not all residents agree that Sharia law poses a local concern.
“Any moderately educated American knows that Sharia law cannot supersede the Constitution,” one resident wrote in a Facebook comment.
The Dallas Express reached out to the Frisco Police Department and other mayoral candidates, including John Keating, Shona Sowell, and Mark Hill, for comment, but did not receive a response.
