The Texas Funeral Service Commission says the East Plano Islamic Center may continue performing burial rites Wednesday after the governor accused the mosque of unlawfully serving as a funeral home.
The follow-up to the commission’s March cease-and-desist letter was sent by TFSC Interim Executive Director Maria Haynes. It comes just over two weeks after EPIC sued the commission arguing the mosque isn’t operating as a funeral home, that the order to cease funeral services is unfounded and that it infringes on EPIC’s religious rights.
The letter states EPIC will not be in violation of the cease-and-desist order the commission sent in March for helping members of the religious community get information on organizing funeral and burial rites, helping the deceased’s loved ones get in contact with a funeral home or director, notifying the community of prayers to be performed for the deceased, performing the funeral prayer or Janaza, or helping obtain a death certificate — services EPIC had been providing…