Shahid Shafi, an India-born Republican facing removal as Texas county leader for being a Muslim, will remain in office as his party officials have slapped down a motion to oust him from the post of vice-chairman.
The Tarrant County Republican Party rejected the motion to strip Mr. Shafi, a trauma surgeon and member of the Southlake City Council, at a contentious meeting on Thursday. The committee voted 139-49 in favour of Dr. Shafi, with 10 abstentions, Washington-based news website The Daily Caller reported.
“This vote reaffirms the commitment by a majority of Tarrant County Republicans to our core values and moral compass, a demonstration of our allegiance to the Texas Republican Party Platform and the Constitutions of the United States and Texas, which strictly prohibit religious and racial discrimination of any kind,” Tarrant County Party Chairman Darl Easton said.
Dr. Shafi said he was “honoured and privileged to receive the support of my fellow Republicans” and emphasised that he held no ill will towards those who voted against him. A small but vocal minority was behind the push to remove Dr. Shafi from his position.