Texas Muslims Work From The Outside In To Encourage Representation In The Legislature
Despite the state’s large Muslim population, not one of Texas’ more than 180 state lawmakers identifies as Muslim. That’s motivated organizations to step up and make sure Muslim voices are heard.
By HAYA PANJWANI, TEXAS NEWSROOM LEGISLATIVE FELLOW
(HOUSTAN PUBLIC MEDIA) Texas has one of the largest Muslim populations in the country, but not one of the state’s more than 180 state lawmakers identifies as Muslim. That’s motivated organizations like EMGAGE Texas, to make sure Muslim voices are heard all levels of state government.
Nabila Mansoor lives in Fort Bend County, near Houston. She is the executive director of EMGAGE Texas.
“EMGAGE is a civic engagement organization that is primarily dealing with ensuring that the Muslim American community is civically engaged in such a way that they know about elections and they know how important elections are,” Mansoor said. Capturing lawmakers’ attention at a hearing during the Senate Special Committee on Redistricting, Mansoor testified via Zoom in Urdu — one of the top 10 languages other than English that’s spoken in Texas households.
EMGAGE is a national organization. In Texas, they’re working with state and local lawmakers to make sure Muslims in the state don’t feel left out in the policymaking process.
Imad Ahmed, Mansoor’s colleague, works with Texas lawmakers to pass legislation in line with Islamic values.
This legislative session, the organization is working on items like making Eid an optional holiday, condemning human rights abuses and adding the term “Imams” to the list of individuals who can perform marriages, which is something that just passed in the House.
They don’t do it alone. EMGAGE’s Texas Legislative Director, Richard Evans, said they try to work with other organizations that share their priorities.
“I think that they all have a common theme to make sure that processes we have here in Texas are fair, for people of any race, creed, color, religion.”
The organization empowers young Muslims through their Emerging Leaders program. Ayesha Muzaffar learned the ins and outs of policy making through the program. During college at the University of Houston, Muzaffar interned at the U.S. Capitol and then at the Texas Capitol with Rep. Garnet Coleman, D- Houston.
Muzaffar said
she felt like she was the only Muslim American working at the statehouse. She was the only person with a hijab in her office. And She said the holy month of Ramadan was especially challenging.
“We had to fast during the legislative session last time, and people didn’t know what fasting was,” Muzaffar said. “There would be food out all the time, and it was during May and that’s when the lobbyists would really pick up the catering.”
