H.R. 959: Combating International Islamophobia Act

The "Combating International Islamophobia Act" aims to address and combat Islamophobia globally, particularly in foreign countries. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill entails:

Establishment of an Office

The bill mandates the creation of an office within the U.S. Department of State known as the "Office to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia." This office will be responsible for overseeing efforts to monitor and combat Islamophobia around the world.

The head of this office will be called the Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Islamophobia, who will be appointed by the Secretary of State. This appointment may be made from existing Department of State employees, allowing them to retain their original roles while serving in this capacity.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Office will have several key responsibilities:

• Monitor and combat acts of Islamophobia and incitement in foreign countries.
• Prepare assessments and reports related to the nature and extent of Islamophobia in various countries as part of broader reports on human rights and religious freedom.
• Consult with domestic and international organizations to inform its actions and strategies.

Reporting Requirements

The bill also amends existing U.S. legislation to ensure that annual reports on human rights practices and international religious freedom include specific information regarding Islamophobia:

• Descriptions of any acts of physical violence or harassment against Muslims and Muslim institutions.
• Instances of propaganda that promote racial hatred or incite violence against the Muslim community.
• Actions taken by host countries in response to violence or to mitigate propaganda and incitement.
• Efforts by governments to protect religious freedom and promote tolerance education.

Implementation Timeline

The bill states that the amendments regarding reporting on Islamophobia will take effect 180 days after the bill's enactment.

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