The Council on American-Islamic Relations–Texas and the Muslim American Society Dallas responded to Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s announcement of a new Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty, calling for the panel to operate with fairness, transparency, and inclusivity as it begins its work.

The committee, formally known as the Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty, was created at a time when advocates say there is growing concern among Muslim communities and other marginalized groups about rising hate incidents and how religious and political expression is treated across Texas.

CAIR-Texas, the Texas chapter of the national civil rights organization Council on American-Islamic Relations, and the Muslim American Society Dallas emphasized that any effort to address religious liberty must apply protections consistently across all faiths. They warned that selective application of religious freedom protections could undermine constitutional guarantees under both the U.S. and Texas constitutions.

Religious liberty is widely recognized as a foundational principle in American law, rooted in the First Amendment, which protects both the free exercise of religion and prohibits government establishment of religion. Texas has also historically emphasized religious freedom protections in state law and policy discussions.

Imam Saeed Purcell, speaking on behalf of MAS Dallas and CAIR-Texas, stressed that religious liberty should function as a safeguard for all communities, particularly at a time when concerns about anti-Muslim bias and scrutiny of political expression are increasing. He said any policy or legislative effort must be applied fairly and consistently.

Clergy member Crystal Silva-McCormick of the United Church of Christ also raised concerns about the committee, noting that religious liberty is a shared constitutional principle. She pointed to concerns about the broader political climate and emphasized the importance of protecting the religious freedom of all communities, including Muslim Americans, who have at times faced exclusion and discrimination.

The United Church of Christ is a mainline Christian denomination known for its advocacy on social justice issues, including interfaith cooperation and religious freedom protections.

Advocates said that for the committee to be effective, it must engage with diverse communities in a transparent manner and avoid singling out any group based on faith or viewpoint. They also raised broader concerns about rhetoric in public discourse that they say can contribute to misunderstanding or discrimination, including the mischaracterization of constitutionally protected advocacy.

CAIR-Texas and MAS Dallas called on committee leadership, including Chairman Phil King, and other members to adopt inclusive practices and ensure that the committee’s work reflects the diversity of Texas while strengthening protections for religious freedom across all communities.