A Senate Judiciary subcommittee is scheduled to open a hearing Tuesday to examine the issue of Muslim civil rights.

Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., the subcommittee's chairman, explained the purpose of the probe is to address the "spike in anti-Muslim bigotry in the last year including Quran burnings, restrictions on mosque construction, hate crimes, hate speech, and other forms of discrimination."

Durbin said he wants the American people to renew the Founding Father's commitment to religious diversity.

"During the course of our history, many religions have faced intolerance," he said in a statement. "It is important for our generation to renew our founding charter's commitment to religious diversity and to protect the liberties guaranteed by our Bill of Rights."

The proposed hearing comes only weeks after the controversial House committee hearing on Muslim extremism in the U.S.