Massachusetts Bill Plans Muslim Commission to Boost Inclusion

Democratic state Senator Jamie Eldridge introduced a bill in Massachusetts aimed at forming a Muslim Commission to boost inclusion and address discrimination against Muslim residents. The 11-member commission would advise state leaders on issues impacting the Muslim community, including education, healthcare, employment, and civil rights.

Additionally, the commission would examine Islamophobia and propose ways to respond to anti-Muslim hate. Eldridge and state Rep. Vanna Howard, another sponsor, intend to make changes before reintroducing the bill in the next legislative session. The commission's primary purpose is to promote inclusion in public life by recommending qualified Muslim Americans for government boards and reviewing state policies and services affecting Muslim communities.

While the commission can provide recommendations, it cannot pass laws or issue executive orders. Unlike other permanent commissions, such as the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism, which examined antisemitism and hate crime laws, the Muslim commission would not establish Sharia law or change the Constitution. Illinois has a comparable commission, the Illinois Muslim American Advisory Council, established in 2017 to advise state leaders on Muslim American issues and strengthen ties between Muslim communities and state agencies.

Other states, like Maryland and Michigan, have also created commissions for related communities but focus on ethnicity or ancestry rather than religion.