House Foreign Affairs Committee Passes Combating International Islamophobia Act

Statement

Today the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed the Combating International Islamophobia Act on a party line vote. The bill will be voted on by the full House of Representatives this coming Tuesday, December 14th. The legislation, authored by Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) seeks to address the rise in incidents of Islamophobia worldwide. The bill requires the U.S. State Department to create a Special Envoy for monitoring and combating Islamophobia, and include state-sponsored Islamophobic violence and impunity in the Department's annual human rights reports. The creation of the Special Envoy will help policymakers better understand the interconnected, global problem of anti-Muslim bigotry. It will also establish a comprehensive strategy for establishing U.S. leadership in combatting Islamophobia worldwide.

"As the United Nations said this year, anti-Muslim hatred has reached epidemic proportions and every country must take action," said Rep. Omar. "I am excited for the opportunity to bring forth legislation to address this crisis alongside Rep. Jan Schakowsky. I want to thank Chairman Meeks for taking this bill up in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. And we look forward to it passing this bill and sending it to the President's desk."

"I am pleased that the Combating International Islamophobia Act was marked up today and is swiftly moving through the House Foreign Affairs Committee," said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09). "I look forward to voting for it on the House floor. It is more urgent than ever that the U.S. do all it can to combat anti-Muslim hate. The creation of a Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Islamophobia is the first step to ensuring the U.S. dedicates the resources necessary to safeguard human rights and religious and cultural freedom around the world. We must also look inward as a nation and address this hatred at home, including in the halls of Congress. I look forward to continue working with my friend and colleague Rep. Ilhan Omar to ensure a safe and just world for all."

This year, the United States has seen over 500 documented complaints of anti-Muslim hate and bias. In a recent study conducted by CAIR, found 69% of respondents personally experienced anti-Muslim bigotry or discrimination since 9/11. In a separate study conducted by the Othering and Belonging Institute, found 67% of Muslims personally experienced Islamophobia in their lifetimes. In March, the United Nations Human Rights Council cited discrimination and hatred towards Muslims has risen to "epidemic proportions."

There has been a staggering rise in incidents of violent Islamophobia incidents worldwide. Whether it is the atrocities being committed against the Uyghurs in China and the Rohingya in Burma, the crackdowns on Muslim populations in India and Sri Lanka, the scapegoating of Muslim refugees and other Muslims in Hungary and Poland, the acts of white supremacist violence targeting Muslims in New Zealand and Canada, or the targeting of minority Muslim communities in Muslim-majority countries like Pakistan, Bahrain, and Iran--the problem of Islamophobia is global in scope.

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