(The Center Square) – A Dallas area school district has canceled hosting an “Islamic Games” event partially funded by a state-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization after state lawmakers expressed opposition. Gov. Greg Abbott also demanded a Houston area school do likewise.
The Islamic Games had scheduled two major events in Texas at taxpayer-funded public school facilities. The Dallas Islamic Games were scheduled at Colleyville Heritage High School in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD; the Houston Islamic Games were scheduled at Bridgeland High School in Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District.
The Islamic Games claims to be “the premier Muslim sports and athletic event in North America, dedicated to promoting physical excellence, unity, and community development.” It says more than 10,000 athletes from more than 900 teams are expected to participate at events in six states this year. Attendance is expected to exceed 50,000 nationwide.
It lists more than 100 sponsors, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations-New Jersey. Last November, Gov. Abbott designated CAIR as an FTO and subsequently called for investigations into it and other Islamic groups, The Center Square reported. CAIR denies the allegations and has sued.
After GCISD was made aware that Abbott had designated CAIR as an FTO, it cancelled its taxpayer-funded facility from being used for the Islamic event.
“Texas Government Code § 2252.152 states that, ‘[a] governmental entity may not enter into a governmental contract with a company identified as a foreign terrorist organization,’” the district said in a statement. “Thus, GCISD provided notice that it is severing the negotiations for the use of District properties for the 2026 Islamic Games.”
It did so after state lawmakers expressed outrage and demanded GCISD cancel the event.
Brandon Hall, the State Board of Education member representing GCISD, said he was “opposed to an organization linked to a designated foreign terrorist organization using school facilities” and reached out to the school board president. After GCISD cancelled hosting the event, he said, “This event or any event tied to @CAIRNational should consider the Middle East as a possible alternative location. Designated terrorists and those who affiliate with them are not welcome in Texas.”
State Rep. Jared Patterson issued a statement citing a resolution he filed, HR 971, condemning CAIR, stating it was “unwelcome within the Texas State Capitol.” He also highlighted concerns about CAIR’s alleged ties to Islamic terrorism, including former members who were convicted on terrorism charges.
He also demanded: “All Independent School Districts and taxpayer funded organizations must completely sever ties with organizations linked to terrorism permanently.”
State Rep. Cole Hefner, who cosponsored HR 971, said he “fought at the Capitol to make it clear that CAIR is not welcome in Texas. Let me be clear — our public schools have no business partnering with groups linked to extremist activity. Period. Texas will not allow our schools to become platforms for dangerous ideologies.”
State Rep. Jeff Leach, who also opposed the event being held at a public school, praised GCISD for “doing the right thing.” He also said Islamic Games participants “are welcomed and encouraged to play sports, as are all Texas children. And there are plenty of sports organizations in DFW they easily can and should join in order to do so.”
On Wednesday, Gov. Abbott sent a letter to CFISD saying, “It has come to my attention that Bridgeland High School intends to offer public school facilities to host the 2026 Houston Islamic Games,” adding that he designated CAIR as an FTO. “You cannot invite such dangers through the front doors of our schools. Texans deserve immediate action to curb the spread of Islamic extremism, and public facilities funded by their tax dollars will not be utilized to host terrorist related groups.”
He also directed CFISD to preserve all records and communications about the event and confirm with his office within seven days that any negotiations or agreements were terminated. If CFISD doesn’t comply, Abbott said he will direct the Texas Education Agency “to immediately seize and uncover any communications district employees may have regarding CAIR, any attempts to conceal CAIR’s involvement, and any agreements or financial statements related to the proposed event. TEA will immediately refer its findings to the Texas Attorney General to pursue legal action.”
In the last few months, Texas lawmakers have led multiple anti-Sharia law initiatives, The Center Square reported. A Texas mayor banned Sharia law, the state comptroller is holding school choice applications submitted by private schools with potential connections to foreign adversaries, including to Sharia law, and a state representative has called for legislative hearings to ban Sharia law in Texas, The Center Square reported.
