Combating International Islamophobia Act

Bill Summary: Combating International Islamophobia Act (S. 805)

Overview

The Combating International Islamophobia Act is a legislative proposal designed to elevate the United States' efforts to monitor, document, and combat Islamophobia and Islamophobic incitement globally. The bill seeks to institutionalize this effort by creating a dedicated office within the Department of State and mandating the inclusion of specific data regarding anti-Muslim violence and discrimination in official U.S. foreign policy reports.

Key Provisions

1. Establishment of the Office to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia

The bill mandates that the Secretary of State establish a new Office to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia within 120 days of the Act's enactment.
* Leadership: The office will be led by a Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Islamophobia, appointed by the Secretary of State.
* Responsibilities: The Office will be tasked with monitoring acts of Islamophobia in foreign countries and coordinating the relevant sections of several major State Department reports.
* Collaboration: The Special Envoy is authorized to consult with domestic and international NGOs, as well as multilateral organizations and institutions.

2. Enhanced Reporting Requirements

The bill amends three major pieces of legislation to ensure that Islamophobia is explicitly tracked in annual reports:
* Foreign Assistance Act of 1961: Amends reports on human rights practices and specific foreign assistance reports to include descriptions of Islamophobic incitement.
* International Religious Freedom Act of 1998: Amends the annual international religious freedom report to include assessments of anti-Muslim sentiment.

The mandatory reporting must include:
* Violence and Harassment: Physical attacks on Muslim individuals and vandalism of institutions (e.g., mosques, schools, and cemeteries).
* Propaganda: Government or non-government media efforts used to justify racial hatred or incite violence against Muslims.
* Government Response: Actions taken (or not taken) by foreign governments to stop violence, eliminate propaganda, enforce religious freedom laws, and promote anti-bias education.

Who is Affected?

• Department of State: Will be required to create a new administrative office and expand its data collection and reporting processes.
• Foreign Governments: Will be subject to increased U.S. scrutiny regarding their treatment of Muslim populations and their efforts to combat hate speech.
• Global Muslim Communities: The bill aims to provide greater international visibility and diplomatic pressure to protect these communities from violence and persecution.

Timeline and Procedural Aspects

• Office Establishment: Must be completed within 120 days of enactment.
• Reporting Implementation: The new reporting requirements will take effect 180 days after the date of enactment.
• Current Status: Introduced in the Senate on February 27, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.