McKinney City Council Unanimously Approves Mosque After Hours of Public Opposition

MCKINNEY, Texas—The McKinney City Council on Tuesday night approved a proposed mosque relocation despite hours of opposition from residents in a meeting that drew hundreds of attendees.

Last month, the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval for the proposal to the City Council for final consideration. The McKinney Islamic Association already operates a mosque on Eldorado Parkway, but members say they have outgrown the facility and plan to build a larger center to accommodate their growing congregation. 

The proposed site is a 5-acre tract along Virginia Parkway near two residential neighborhoods and a high school. It would include a 37,000-square-foot facility with a mosque, educational spaces, a gymnasium, and meeting rooms. It will also be designed to accommodate 3,000 people.

On Tuesday night, hundreds of residents packed the meeting, largely to speak against the McKinney Islamic Association’s proposed mosque. However, some came out in support of the development.

“Every country that is Islamic now used to be a Christian country,” said Eddie Isa, who described himself as a survivor of Sharia law from Iran. “We were soft Christians, and we allowed these people to come in, bring their Sharia law into their countries, and slowly kill us off left and right.”

He urged the council members to reject the proposal.

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“These people will use ‘Takia’ to lie to you, to manipulate you, because whenever Islam is little, they will lie to you and tell you they come in peace. This is Level One. Level Two is what’s happening in the U.K. right now,” Isa added.

Another resident in attendance said she grew up in a Muslim country with Sharia law and claimed “Americans are sadly mistaken” about Islam.

“The mosque is the nation, and the nation is the mosque,” she said. “A mosque can be used as a military center, a weapon storage facility, a government office, a city hall. That’s where they find their political candidates, and the candidates are funded through the mosque.”

“A mosque is not just a place of prayer, but it’s where all activity takes place to protect Islam,” she continued. “It is incompatible with our Constitution and the rule of law. It’s a serious threat to McKinney and the nation.”

However, some attendees spoke in support of the mosque. Local resident Ishaq Syed said concerns that the mosque would operate at full capacity every day were unrealistic. 

“So, six days a week, the primary activity here is a regular daily prayer and up to 10 to 25 vehicles at a time. Gym activity adds another 10 to 25 vehicles. Classroom activities account for the remainder. These are small, spread-out arrivals throughout the day, not a rush,” Syed said.

Syed also said the existing mosque on Eldorado Parkway will remain and Friday services will be divided between both locations, with roughly 30% remaining at the existing mosque and 70% moving to the proposed Virginia Parkway location.

Another local Muslim resident said the mosque and its members have been part of the McKinney community for years.

“Give the new generation [the opportunity] to understand each other, and to learn from one another in different religions and different cultures, to live in peace and justice for all,” the resident said.

Multiple Texas officials also attended the meeting.

Republican U.S. Rep. Keith Self, whose district includes McKinney, urged council members to reject the proposal.

“Look, I know you’re in the accommodation phase, but the intimidation phase follows quickly. It’s already happening in cities in Texas,” Self said. “This is your time though. This is your moment of truth; this is your time for choosing. This is your time to choose to honor your oath that starts with the U.S. Constitution. There is no state cavalry coming to save you.”

Republican state Rep. Keresa Richardson also addressed the council, urging members to delay action. 

“I respectfully request that this council pause final action for the McKinney Islamic Association site plan … while the state’s investigation moves over,” Richardson said. “This is America, and we will not be governed by Sharia law.”

Richardson also said that McKinney Islamic Association’s imam, Sheikh Mohamad Al-Gebaly, was sent by the Egyptian government to serve at a Virginia mosque, which she argued raises questions about potential foreign influence.

“This historic appointment by a foreign government raises legitimate questions of transparency regarding potential foreign influence in the leadership of this organization,” Richardson said.

Public comments lasted four hours before the council removed the item from the consent agenda for discussion.

City officials involved in planning, construction, and engineering told the council members the proposed site met all the applicable requirements and that staff found no issues with the site’s intended use.

Councilman Justin Beller then moved to approve the site plan, and Councilwoman Geré Feltus seconded the motion.

Councilmembers Explain Vote

After making the motion, Beller addressed the audience, saying the mosque has been part of McKinney for 17 years and has benefited the community.

“I’ve visited their existing campus and have several friends that I know and trust, who attend regularly and undoubtedly are an asset to the community,” Beller said. “I want to tell them congratulations. I’m happy you’ll get to see the fruits of your labor.”

Beller then criticized residents and elected officials who opposed the project.

“I struggle to find words to address the other opinions that are injected into this discussion. This is a site plan approval, nothing else. But it’s disheartening to be asked to break my oath of office to deny the Constitution because of some algorithmic rage or misinformation,” Beller said. 

“Watching partisan politicians with power to gain use fear and outrage is disappointing,” he continued. “I would encourage all citizens to resist this reckless political rhetoric, which in my opinion, amounts to election year fear mongering. There are enough legitimate concerns in this world without manufacturing new ones.”

Feltus told attendees the discussion would continue beyond the vote.

“This is not the last of the conversations. I am still open to conversations, I’m open to answering your questions,” Feltus said. “I want you to understand the process for us as a council. We did not take your comments lightly.” 

“I am not an engineer by trade, and I have to rely on staff to give me accurate information, she continued. “They have made all the points extremely clear …There’s not one question that has gone unanswered without thorough, thorough vetting and a great response to why we are being presented this site plan the way it is. And so because of that, it is incumbent on me to move forward and going ahead to approve this item.”

No other council members spoke before the vote.

The City Council unanimously approved the proposed mosque site plan. 

The project will now move into the civil engineering, platting, and building permit phases. Before construction can begin, the developer must obtain the required technical approvals and permits.