Demonstrators take their “Emergency Rally: Stand with Palestinians Under Siege in Gaza” out of Harvard University and onto the streets of Harvard Square, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, Oct.14, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering reviving legislation that would establish a state commission to represent the interests of Muslim state residents, a plan that has drawn scrutiny for what critics describe as pushing a so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program.

The proposed 11-member commission would advise state leaders on issues affecting Muslim Americans, including education, health care, employment, and civil rights. It would also examine incidents of alleged Islamophobia and develop recommendations for how the state could respond to anti-Muslim discrimination and hate.

According to the bill, the state government would establish “a permanent commission on the status of people who practice Islam consisting of 11 persons,” who have “demonstrated a commitment to the Muslim American community.”

“Massachusetts has always prided itself on being a leader in equality and civil rights, a legacy this bill builds upon,” said Democratic state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, who sponsored the bill.

“American Muslims in my district and across the Commonwealth enrich our communities as students, health-care workers, educators, small-business owners, and civic leaders,” Eldridge added. “This commission will help the state better understand and address the challenges they face, while strengthening inclusion and civic participation.”

Among its proposed responsibilities, the commission could recommend qualified Muslim Americans for appointments to state boards and other appointed government positions. It would also review the impact of state policies and services on Muslim communities and facilitate communication between Muslim organizations and state officials.

“The commission shall be a resource to the commonwealth on issues affecting American Muslim communities in the commonwealth,” the bill reads.

Under the proposal, the commission would promote research on issues pertaining to the Massachusetts Muslim community, communicate with public and private sector leaders and the media on issues affecting Muslims, help build stronger unity among Muslims, examine the potential impacts of state policies on the Muslim community, and propose the implementation of new policies to state officials.

The proposal would also allow the commission to raise funds and accept gifts to help pursue its goals. Further, the commission would retain a paid executive director, employees, and volunteers to help carry out the group’s duties.

The commission would be advisory and would have no authority to enact laws, issue government orders, or compel state agencies to implement its recommendations. Its 11 members would be appointed by the governor, attorney general, and legislative leaders. Commissioners would serve without compensation.

Critics allege that the commission could be vulnerable to a legal challenge on constitutional grounds. Skeptics argue that the bill’s stipulation that the commission recommend Muslim Americans for government boards could potentially violate equal protection laws, pointing to previous cases in which the Supreme Court explained that government officials cannot privilege one religion over another.

The proposal comes amid the growing political prominence of the American Muslim community, ignited by the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in Israel. In the immediate aftermath of the ensuing Gaza war, American Muslims orchestrated protests and engaged in political activism. Further, several American Muslims, such as Zohran Mamdani, Abdul El-Sayed, and Darializa Chevalier, have been catapulted into the political spotlight amid the furor over the war in Gaza.

Skeptics suggest that the the commission could leverage their influence over state government to implement anti-Israel policies and agendas, such as advancing the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement (BDS) or introducing anti-Israel curricula in public schools.

The bill has already garnered the necessary votes to advance past initial stages and currently sits in the Massachusetts Senate Ways and Means Committee.