A federal judge has ruled that the East Plano Islamic Center may continue its legal challenge against the Texas Funeral Services Commission, a state body that regulates the funeral industry. The decision allows the mosque’s lawsuit to move forward after the agency attempted to have the case thrown out.
In a 26-page opinion released last week, the judge denied a motion to dismiss filed by the former head of the commission. The ruling determined that the mosque, known as EPIC, presented enough evidence to support claims that its constitutional rights might have been infringed upon.
The judge noted that no proof has been offered to suggest the mosque’s burial practices pose a threat to Texas law.
The legal dispute originated in March 2025, when the commission sent a cease-and-desist letter to the mosque. The agency alleged that EPIC was operating an unlicensed funeral home by providing religious funeral services. The order required the mosque to halt these activities. EPIC stated it was not engaged in commercial embalming or business operations but temporarily stopped its rites in response to the order.
According to court documents, the mosque provides specific religious services, including washing and shrouding deceased members and conducting the Janaza prayer. These services are offered without charge, and the mosque works with licensed providers to transport remains. EPIC, one of the largest mosques in North Texas, is located in Plano, which is about 5 miles north of Richardson.
The mosque argued that Islamic tradition requires prompt burial rites. It claimed the commission’s order prevented congregants from receiving these services at their place of worship, resulting in at least 11 burials occurring without the Janaza prayer. EPIC cited historical correspondence from 1987 and 2014, asserting that religious organizations in Texas may perform burial-related activities without a license provided they do not receive financial compensation.