“To establish in the Department of State the Office to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes within the Department of State, not later than 120 days after the date of enactment, an Office to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia headed by a Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Islamophobia appointed by the Secretary of State, who may be drawn from existing Department officers or employees retaining their prior positions and responsibilities. The office shall (1) monitor and combat acts of Islamophobia and Islamophobic incitement occurring in foreign countries; (2) coordinate and assist in preparing the portions of the human rights reports required by sections 116(d)(9) and 502B(k) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d), 2304(k)) assessing and describing the nature and extent of such acts; and (3) coordinate and assist in preparing the portion of the report required by section 102(b)(1)(A)(viii) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)(1)(A)(viii)) assessing and describing the nature and extent of such acts. The Special Envoy shall consult with domestic and international nongovernmental organizations and multilateral organizations and institutions, as appropriate.
This section requires, where applicable, the inclusion of descriptions of acts of Islamophobia and Islamophobic incitement in foreign countries in three annual reports: (1) the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices under section 116(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d)), adding a new paragraph (13); (2) reports on human rights practices under section 502B of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2304), adding a new subsection (k); and (3) the annual report on international religious freedom under section 102(b)(1)(A) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)(1)(A)), adding a new clause (viii). Such descriptions must include acts of physical violence or harassment against members of the Muslim community, violence or vandalism against Muslim institutions (e.g., schools, mosques, cemeteries), propaganda in government or nongovernment media inciting violence against Muslims, government responses to such acts, enactment and enforcement of religious freedom laws protecting Muslims, and efforts to promote anti-bias and tolerance education. The amendments apply 180 days after enactment.