McKinney Residents Turn Out, City Hall Votes Anyway
McKinney, Texas, a fast-growing northern Dallas suburb, is now at the center of a heated fight over a proposed Islamic center. Residents packed the August 4, 2026, city council meeting to speak against the project, according to the source report. After the public comments, the council voted 7-0 to approve the plan. That is not a close call. That is city hall moving like it already knew where the chairs were going before the meeting began.
The Project Is Not Small
The McKinney Islamic Association sought approval for a larger campus on roughly 5 to 5.5 acres along Virginia Parkway, near residential neighborhoods and a high school. Approved plans include a 15,000-square-foot mosque, a 10,000-square-foot classroom building, and a 7,000-square-foot gym. The total project has been described as roughly 33,000 square feet. For residents worried about traffic, scale, and neighborhood impact, this was not exactly a backyard shed with a fresh coat of paint.
A Sharia Survivor Warns the Council
One speaker identified in reports as Eddie Isa, also referred to as Eri Issa or Edwin Isagholi, described himself as an Iranian-born Christian and a “Sharia law survivor.” He told the council, “I’m a Sharia law survivor from Iran,” and added, “I’m TELLING YOU, this is a BAD idea, and you’re going to REGRET not listening to people like us who lived under Sharia law!” His warning drew major attention online, especially among conservatives who believe local officials too often treat public concern as background noise.
The Zoning Defense
Texas Scorecard reported that Councilman Patrick Cloutier had previously said at a July 21 meeting that council members had a “ministerial” duty to allow property developments that meet zoning requirements. That is the clean, tidy government answer. It may also be legally important. Still, residents are allowed to notice when the public meeting looks less like a debate and more like a rubber stamp wearing a name badge.
The Officials Named in the Vote
The council members named in posts and reporting around the vote include Mayor Bill Cox, Justin Beller, Patrick Cloutier, Geré Feltus, Rick Franklin, Michael Jones, and Ernest Lynch. The vote was unanimous. Supporters of the decision point to religious liberty and property rights. Opponents argue that the size, location, and broader concerns raised by residents deserved more than a procedural shrug from the dais.
Video From the Meeting
Online Reaction Builds
More Backlash From X
A Recall Call From One User
Questions About Motives
Council Names Circulate Online
Another Post Listing Officials
Follow-Up Interview Adds Fuel
A follow-up exchange also drew attention after conservative Texas political commentator Kaylee Campbell spoke with Azfar Syaeed, identified in the source report as the former president of the Islamic Center of Frisco. The discussion focused on concerns about Sharia law and whether Islamic institutions would follow American law. Critics said his answers were vague. Supporters would likely say “follow the law” should be enough. In politics, that phrase often does the work of a full marching band while answering about three notes of the song.
Kaylee Campbell Interview Clip
Additional Campbell Clip
The Larger Fight Over Local Control
This story sits at the messy crossroads of religious liberty, zoning law, local control, and public trust. The First Amendment protects religious practice, including Islam, and government cannot simply block a project because residents dislike a faith group. But elected officials also owe voters a serious public process, not a lecture from the rulebook after everyone has waited hours to speak. When a council says its hands are tied, citizens tend to ask who tied them and why nobody mentioned the knot sooner.
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