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Community groups sue Trump's Religious Liberty Commission
The suit also notes that not having diverse representation makes the Commission lack the diversity of viewpoints to adequately consider instances like attacks on minority places of worship.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Mon, 09, Feb 2026
- 23:17 EST
- 18
Logos of Sikh American Legal Defence System, Hindus for Human Rights and Muslims for Progressive Values / Sikh American Legal Defence System, Hindus for Human Rights and Muslims for Progressive Values
Hindu, Sikh and Muslim groups filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's Religious Liberty Commission's failure to include non-Christian voices, on Feb. 9.
The Religious Liberty Commission is a U.S. federal advisory body established by President Donald J. Trump via an Executive Order on May 1, 2025. It is housed under the Department of Justice and advises the White House Faith Office and Domestic Policy Council on religious liberty policies.
Approaching the District court of Southern New York, Hindus for Human Rights, along with Sikh American Legal Defence System and Muslims for Progressive Values have named President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and The Religious Liberty Commission, among others.
Alleging exclusion, the complainants argued, "Although the Commission is tasked with ensuring that all Americans can practice their religion free from discrimination, it lacks the viewpoint of religious minorities like Sikhs, Muslims, and Hindus, who face some of the most pernicious discrimination."
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Additionally, they contest that the Commission's exclusionary formation is a violation of the Federal Advisory Committee Act for its failure to include “excluded viewpoints.”
The suit also notes that not having diverse representation makes the Commission lack the "diversity of viewpoints to adequately consider" instances like attacks on minority places of worship.
They noted, "There have been dozens of attacks on mosques in recent years and one of the deadliest mass shootings at a house of worship in U.S. history took place at a Sikh temple. Yet, despite the Commission’s mandate to consider attacks on houses of worship, the Commission lacks any members from the minority
religious communities that have been the victims of these attacks."
However, during a meeting in September, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the Commission Chair, declared the committee “represents all faiths because that’s what our founders intended,” USA Today reported.
Patrick also spotlighted the commission's advocacy for the rights of Muslim parents in Maryland’s Montgomery County to opt out of their children reading LGBTQ themed books.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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