RELIGIOUS LEADERS THANK SEN. SHAPIRO FOR CHAMPIONING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Texas Impact released a statement today commending Senator Florence Shapiro of Plano for hosting Imam Dr. Yusuf Kavakci to offer the opening prayer in the Texas Senate on April 4. The event marked the first time a Muslim religious leader has offered the Senate’s opening prayer.

Reverend Mel Caraway of Garland, president of Texas Impact’s board of directors, said that Shapiro, who is Jewish, modeled respect for religious freedom in inviting Imam Kavakci to open the Senate. “Our state is a microcosm of the religious diversity found in our United States, and it is incumbent upon all of our legislative bodies to uphold the freedom of all our citizens to express their faith,” Caraway said.

Imam Kavakci’s prayer coincided with the lobby day for the Freedom and Justice Foundation (F&J), a Muslim grassroots organization that stresses interfaith dialogue and cooperation. F&J is a member of Texas Impact, along with about 40 Christian, Jewish, Muslim and multi-faith regional and statewide groups.

Mohamed Eliabiary, President & CEO of F&J and a constituent of Senator Shapiro, praised the welcome Imam Kavakci received from Shapiro, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, and most of the Senate. One senator left the chamber during the Imam’s prayer, drawing criticism from the media and his colleagues.

“The conflict over Imam Kavakci’s prayer only serves to showcase the ongoing need for intentional interfaith dialogue and cooperation,” Elibiary said. “It’s a natural human reaction to fear what we don't understand, but our collective First Amendment right to Religious Liberty makes it incumbent upon us to learn about our diversity because in the end we're all Americans."

Read Texas Impact's Statement Commending Senator Shapiro