The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas) and the Muslim American Society (MAS) Dallas today responded to Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s announcement of the Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty, urging that the committee operate with fairness, transparency, and inclusivity.
LINK: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Announces Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty
The formation of the committee comes at a time of growing concern among Muslim communities and other marginalized groups regarding rising hate and the treatment of religious and political expression across Texas.
“Religious liberty is a fundamental right rooted in our faith traditions and protected by both the U.S. and Texas Constitutions,” said Imam Saeed Purcell, representing MAS Dallas and the CAIR-Texas Board. “Any effort to address religious freedom must be applied fairly and consistently. At a time of rising anti-Muslim bigotry and increasing concern around how political expression is treated, religious liberty must be upheld as a protection for all—not applied selectively.”
In a statement, Crystal Silva-McCormick, clergy member with the United Church of Christ said:
“As a clergy member from the Christian tradition, I am concerned about Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty. Religious liberty for people of all faiths is a foundational constitutional principle. However, the Lieutenant Governor has a documented record of advancing positions aligned with Christian nationalism and rhetoric that has targeted Muslim communities.
At its best, the Christian tradition calls for love of neighbor – all neighbors. That commitment requires us to defend the religious freedom and expression of our Muslim neighbors and people of every faith tradition. A committee on religious liberty is a welcome initiative only if it upholds constitutional protections and applies them consistently and equitably, especially for communities, such as Muslim Americans, who have too often been the focus of exclusion and discrimination.”
MAS Dallas and CAIR-Texas emphasized that for the committee to be effective, it must engage transparently with diverse communities and ensure that no group is singled out based on faith or viewpoints.
Advocates also raised concerns about the broader climate in which religious liberty is being discussed, including rhetoric that can contribute to discrimination and the mischaracterization of constitutionally protected advocacy.
CAIR-Texas and MAS Dallas called on Chairman Phil King and committee members to adopt inclusive practices that strengthen religious freedom for all Texans and ensure that the committee’s work reflects the diversity of the state.
CONTACT:
Saeed Purcell, MAS Dallas and CAIR Texas Board Member, spurcell@cair.com, 713-838-2247 ; Crystal Silva-McCormick, United Church of Christ minister, csilva-mccormick@unitedseminary.edu, 915.630.5564 Sameeha Rizvi, CAIR-Texas Civic Engagement Organizer, srizvi@cair.com, 512-893-1371