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Creates a new Office to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia at the Department of State, led by a Special Envoy, to track and address Islamophobia abroad, help prepare parts of existing human-rights and religious-freedom reports, and consult with NGOs and multilateral partners. The State Department must set up the Office within 120 days of enactment. The bill also requires annual country human rights reports and the International Religious Freedom report to include specific descriptions of acts of Islamophobia, related incitement, government responses, and anti-bias/tolerance efforts, with the reporting changes taking effect 180 days after enactment.
Adds a new section (titled '66 Monitoring and combating Islamophobia') to Title I of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 by inserting the Office to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia into that title.
Requires the Secretary of State to establish within the Department of State an Office to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia (referred to as the 'Office') not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this section.
Designates the head of the Office as the Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Islamophobia (the 'Special Envoy'), who shall be appointed by the Secretary of State.
Authorizes the Secretary to appoint the Special Envoy from among officers and employees of the Department of State, if the Secretary considers it appropriate, and allows any such officer or employee appointed as Special Envoy to retain the position (and associated responsibilities) they held before the appointment.
Assigns the Office responsibility for monitoring and combating acts of Islamophobia and Islamophobic incitement that occur in foreign countries.
Primary effects are on three groups: (1) Muslim communities and religious minorities abroad — the new Office and enhanced reporting aim to identify and publicize incidents of violence, discrimination, and incitement, which can increase international attention and diplomatic pressure; (2) the Department of State — officials must create the Office, appoint a Special Envoy, collect and analyze new types of information, and revise reporting procedures; this will require staff time, coordination with missions overseas, and consultation with civil society and multilateral organizations; (3) foreign governments and local actors — countries named in reports could face increased scrutiny or diplomatic consequences tied to documented incidents or inadequate responses. Additional stakeholders include U.S.-based and international NGOs, human rights monitors, and recipients or subjects of U.S. foreign assistance whose programs may be evaluated against the reporting. Because the text provided does not specify funding, the Department may need to reallocate existing resources to stand up the Office and meet reporting requirements. The requirement to document specific types of incidents could lead to more granular reporting and may prompt policy responses, bilateral engagement, or targeted programming to address Islamophobia. Countries criticized in reports may object diplomatically or seek to influence reporting, which could affect bilateral relations.
Adds a new section titled 'Monitoring and combating Islamophobia' to Title I of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 establishing an Office to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia within the Department of State, creating the position of Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Islamophobia (appointed by the Secretary), defining the Office’s responsibilities (including monitoring Islamophobia abroad and coordinating portions of specified reports), and requiring consultations with nongovernmental and multilateral organizations.
Amends section 116(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act (22 U.S.C. 2151n) to (1) adjust punctuation in existing paragraphs, (2) redesignate existing paragraph (13) as paragraph (14) and change the capitalization of a phrase, and (3) insert a new paragraph (13) requiring inclusion, wherever applicable, of a description of the nature and extent of acts of Islamophobia and Islamophobic incitement (with specified subparts (A)–(E)) in the annual country reports on human rights practices.
Amends section 502B by redesignating the second subsection (i) (noted as relating to child marriage status) as subsection (j) and by adding a new subsection (k) requiring that the report required by subsection (b) include, wherever applicable, a description of the nature and extent of acts of Islamophobia and Islamophobic incitement (with five specified items to be reported).
Amends section 102(b)(1)(A) of the International Religious Freedom Act (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)(1)(A)) by adjusting punctuation in clauses (vi) and (vii)(II) and by adding a new clause (viii) requiring, wherever applicable, an assessment and description of the nature and extent of acts of Islamophobia and Islamophobic incitement in that country during the preceding year (including specified subclauses (I) and (II)).
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Introduced February 27, 2025 by Cory Anthony Booker · Last progress February 27, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Introduced in Senate