US Anti-Islamophobia Bill: A Necessity or A Political Gambit ?

On October 21, 2021, Representative Ilhan Omar (D- MN05) proposed legislation in the United States Congress. This bill's formal title is “An Act to Establish the Office to Monitor and Counter Islamophobia in the Department of State, and for Other Purposes.” Whereas the title clearly states the goal of the measure, there is some ambiguity in the title, raising issues about what this bill implies for overseas non-Islamic populations. The last section, “and for other purposes,” opens the door to the State Department misusing this measure if it ever passes on the floors of both the Senate and the Congress.

This bill has 56 co-sponsors, including the usual suspects Rep Rashida Tlaib (D-MI13), Rep Brad Sherman (D-CA30), Rep Sara Jacobs (D-CA53), Rep Pramila Jayapal (D-WA7), Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY14), and others. This bill fulfils a campaign pledge made by the majority of these Representatives to their voters who helped them win elections in 2020.

The complete language of the law also reveals divides among Democrats on the use of this bill. Because of the bill's religious basis, it may be insulting to other religions in the United States. It disregards Jewish, Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist rights in the United States. Representatives of other religious organisations in the United States may likewise petition the United States Congress to pass the “Combating International Hinduphobia Act,” the “Combating International Judaism-phobia Act,” the “Combating International Buddhist-phobia Act,” and other similar legislation. The bill was sponsored by the controversial Rep. Ilhan Omar, who is renowned for her radical beliefs. Her anti-Semitism was extensively condemned by the media and the world community. Rep Rashida Tlaib, another contentious Representative, has made headlines for her open support for Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the US State Department, the European Union, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Many countries throughout the world have rejected the United States' sanctions diplomacy. Many people, notably in Russia, India, and China, have consistently dismissed USCIRF reports due to established prejudice. And now, as a result of this Act, the United States will be more isolated worldwide on this subject. The United States' foreign policy has frequently rewarded dictatorships in order to bolster its own military sales. Over the years, inconsistency in US foreign policy has alienated American allies while strengthening American opponents. This plan further alienates American worldwide corporate interests and, as a result, must be rejected by Republicans as well as Democrats. The bill also appears to have sparked a schism among Democrats. We do not yet know if the Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer groups will support the bill, which plainly goes against the interests of their constituents. The bill definitely goes against the majority of Republicans' supporters, according to the Republicans.

Overall, because it is redundant, this religious measure must be rejected in the US Congress by all of the remaining Representatives. The USCIRF already plays the job that this law is designed to fill. The measure has a direct influence on the United States' ties with India, China, Russia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Even before it is proposed, this law is obsolete because it connects the US government to a religion that violates the US Constitution. The measure also favours a religion that the majority of Americans do not practice. This law also eliminates the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a State Department institution inside USAID.

President Joe Biden would designate a Senate-confirmed special envoy to report on and combat Islamophobia incitement throughout the world under the measure, which passed by a vote of 219-212 on 14 December, 2021. Mosque destruction, acts of violence against Muslims, and propaganda encouraging harassment of any type will all be documented. On the House floor, Omar stated,

“We are in the middle of a shocking surge of anti-Muslim violence and prejudice throughout the world. Islamophobia has a worldwide reach, and we must take the lead in combating it.”

§ The 'Combating International Islamophobia Act' authorizes the State Department to create an office to monitor and combat Islamophobia and associated concerns.

§ The bill also necessitates that information about Islamophobia be included in specific existing annual reports to Congress about human rights and religious freedom in foreign countries, such as relevant data about physical aggression violence or harassment of Muslim people, incidents of scaremongering in government and non-government media that seek to defend or spread hatred or provoke violence against Muslim people, and measures taken by a country's government to react to such acts. The office is responsible for coordinating and assisting with the preparation of certain sections of the reports.

§ The bill also calls for the appointment of a Special Envoy to monitor and combat Islamophobia, who will be in charge of the office. India has been hauled in with China and Myanmar for alleged atrocities against Muslims.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India is proud of its secular credentials, particularly its status as the world's largest democracy and pluralistic society with a long tradition of tolerance and inclusivity. According to the Indian Constitution, all persons, including minorities, have fundamental rights. According to the MEA, India is a functioning democracy in which religious freedom is safeguarded by the Constitution, and democratic administration and the rule of law further promote and defend essential rights.

According to Congresswoman Omar, Islamophobia is on the rise in almost every part of the world. According to a press statement issued by her office, there has been a significant upsurge in violent Islamophobia incidents. Whether it's atrocities against Uyghurs in China or Rohingya in Myanmar (Burma), crackdowns on Muslim populations in India and Sri Lanka, trying to blame of Muslim refugees and other Muslims in Hungary and Poland, actions of white racist violence directed at Muslims in New Zealand and Canada, or targeting of minority Muslim communities in Muslim-majority countries such as Pakistan, Bahrain, and Iran, Islamophobia is a serious trend.

The Combating International Islamophobia Act has been supported by the American Muslim Empowerment Network (AMEN), the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT).

As per Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, we have seen an upsurge in violent Islamophobia in the United States and throughout the world for more than a decade, ranging from the genocide of the Rohingya in Burma (Myanmar) and Uyghurs in China to attacks on Muslim refugees in Canada and New Zealand.

While global Islamophobia, anti-Muslim state policies, and hate incidents have increased over the previous two decades, CAIR's Nihad Awad claimed that the American Muslim community has consistently campaigned for the appointment of a special envoy to monitor and combat this rising tide of hatred. He argued that the US needs more tools to combat Islamophobic state policies and violence in countries such as China, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the European Union, and others. Global Islamophobia endangers not just Muslims' safety and security at home and abroad, but also religious freedom and democratic principles globally.