Sameerah Munshi, the only Muslim woman serving on the Advisory Board of Lay Leaders for the Religious Liberties Commission, has resigned in protest of the White House’s removal of anti-Zionist Catholic commissioner Carrie Prejean-Boller. Munshi’s resignation letter, obtained by Middle East Eye on Thursday, cited what she described as “hostile” behavior towards Muslims and a lack of respect for religious beliefs.

 

Prejean-Boller, who confirmed that she was fired on X on Thursday, said that her removal was due to her opposition to Israel’s genocide in Gaza and her insistence that Catholicism and Zionism are not compatible. Her dismissal followed a viral video clip from a February commission meeting, in which she argued against the compatibility of the two.

 

Munshi, in her resignation letter, wrote: “If we are not free in America to abide by our religious beliefs and hold fast to them despite others’ disagreement, then in what country are we free to do so?” She added that the commission treated Muslim members with hostility and mocked their faith.

 

The commission, established under the Department of Justice in May 2025, reports directly to the president. There are no Muslim commissioners, only three appointed as advisors: Munshi; Ismail Royer, director of the Religious Freedom Institute; and scholar Sheikh Hamza Yusuf. 

 

Munshi said she began to feel isolated after testifying in September 2025 about students’ rights to protest Israel’s actions in Palestine. “After I testified about Palestine, I stopped receiving the witness lists before each hearing, so I don’t know if that was a coincidence, if it was organizational, just a miscommunication on their end, or if they literally held it against me about what I testified on,” she said.

 

Munshi described developing a connection with Prejean-Boller after the meeting. “Carrie has been wonderful. We've become pretty good friends at this point, and we've shared a lot,” she said. She also noted that Prejean-Boller respects Muslims, a quality she said she has rarely seen in conservative circles.

 

Prejean-Boller has also spoken out against the US-Israeli war on Iran, which Munshi cited as another reason for her resignation. Munshi wrote: “This government’s unlawful killing of children and civilians in Iran is at the urging of a genocidal state… It is painfully obvious through their actions that this administration has no regard for the Constitution’s protection of free expression and religious liberty, nor its detailing of war powers.”

 

After the February hearing clip gained attention, Jason Bedrick of The Heritage Foundation claimed Munshi provided Prejean-Boller with talking points. 

 

Munshi denied the claim, stating: “I deny providing her talking points. Me and Carrie were texting during the hearing… That morning I was in that meeting… it was a joke. It was a clown show in there. And I was frustrated. Carrie was frustrated. She told me to start recording her in case they didn't call on her.”

 

Prejean-Boller said she felt sidelined because of her advocacy for Palestinians and for wearing a Palestinian flag pin. “I had to do it. I knew that it had to be done because of what I'd seen, and the poor Palestinian people... I had to speak for them. I couldn't just sit there in this fancy room with important people and allow them to just disregard Palestinians as human beings,” she said.

 

Prejean-Boller added: “I am disgusted. I am absolutely disgusted with this president. He betrayed the American people, and he's betrayed our constitution.” 

 

The genocide Gaza has killed over 72,000 Palestinians, including 651 since a ceasefire brokered by the Trump administration. Lawmakers are now examining possible violations of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, including concerns over transparency, balance, and fair representation.

 

Munshi clarified that her resignation was not due to fear or intimidation but a response to what she described as injustice within the commission.