Combating International Islamophobia Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 959
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-04: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-14T08:07:33Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 959: Combating International Islamophobia Act
Purpose
This bill aims to address and reduce Islamophobia—defined as prejudice, discrimination, or hostility toward Islam or Muslims—on an international scale. It establishes a dedicated office within the U.S. Department of State to monitor such acts abroad and requires the inclusion of related information in key U.S. government reports on human rights and religious freedom. The goal is to promote tolerance, protect religious freedoms, and hold foreign governments accountable for addressing anti-Muslim violence and incitement.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Office: Within 120 days of enactment, the Secretary of State must create the Office to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia in the Department of State. It will be led by a Special Envoy, appointed by the Secretary, who may be an existing Department employee retaining their prior role.
- Office Responsibilities:
- Monitor and combat acts of Islamophobia and related incitement (e.g., promotion of hatred or violence against Muslims) occurring in foreign countries.
- Coordinate and assist in preparing sections of existing U.S. reports that assess the nature and extent of such acts.
- Consultations: The Special Envoy must consult with domestic and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), as well as multilateral groups (e.g., United Nations bodies), to fulfill these duties.
- Reporting Requirements:
- Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to include descriptions of Islamophobia in annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices and in reports on practices in countries receiving U.S. security assistance. These descriptions cover violence or harassment against Muslims, propaganda inciting hatred, government responses, laws protecting religious freedom, and efforts to promote anti-bias education.
- Amends the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to add similar assessments to its annual report.
- These new reporting elements take effect 180 days after enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new Section 66 to the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, creating the dedicated office and Special Envoy position—previously, no specific U.S. government office focused solely on monitoring international Islamophobia.
- Expands mandatory content in three major annual reports (human rights, foreign assistance, and international religious freedom) by adding detailed requirements on Islamophobia. For example:
- Human rights reports now include a 13th category specifically on Islamophobia, building on existing categories like religious freedom violations.
- Security assistance reports gain a new subsection (k) on the topic.
- Religious freedom reports add a new clause (viii) for assessments.
- These changes integrate Islamophobia tracking into established reporting frameworks without altering core structures, but they mandate more comprehensive coverage of anti-Muslim incidents and government actions.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of State will face new administrative burdens, including staffing the office, appointing a Special Envoy, and enhancing report preparations. This could require additional resources for data collection and international consultations, potentially influencing foreign aid and assistance decisions based on countries' handling of Islamophobia.
- Citizens: U.S. Muslim communities may benefit indirectly through heightened global awareness and U.S. advocacy for their protection abroad, though the bill focuses on foreign countries rather than domestic issues. It does not directly affect U.S. citizens' rights.
- International Relations: Could strengthen U.S. diplomacy on religious tolerance by pressuring countries with poor records on Islamophobia (e.g., through public reports or aid conditions), fostering better ties with Muslim-majority nations. It may also encourage multilateral efforts against bias but could strain relations with governments viewing the scrutiny as interference.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Department of State: Directly responsible for implementing the office and reporting changes.
- Muslim Communities Abroad: Primary beneficiaries, as the bill targets protection from violence, harassment, and incitement in foreign countries.
- Nongovernmental and Multilateral Organizations: Involved in consultations and data-sharing, including human rights groups like Amnesty International or religious freedom advocates.
- Foreign Governments: Subject to U.S. assessments in reports, which could impact their receipt of U.S. aid or diplomatic standing.
- U.S. Congress and Policymakers: Sponsors (e.g., Representatives Omar, Schakowsky, and others) and committees like Foreign Affairs will oversee enforcement.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces U.S. obligations under international human rights treaties (e.g., those promoting religious freedom) by institutionalizing monitoring, without creating new enforceable laws against private actors. The amendments are procedural, focusing on reporting rather than sanctions.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the First Amendment's protection of religious exercise by emphasizing tolerance and anti-bias efforts abroad, but it applies only to foreign policy and does not regulate U.S. domestic speech or religion.
- Political: Highlights a targeted focus on Islamophobia amid broader religious freedom initiatives, potentially sparking debates on whether similar offices should address other forms of bias (e.g., antisemitism). As an introduced bill in the 119th Congress (referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee), its passage could signal bipartisan or progressive priorities on global equity, though it may face opposition over resource allocation or perceived selectivity.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (20)
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-04: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-02-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Combating International Islamophobia Act — issued 2025-02-04 — PDF (8 pages)