At APN our mission is to advance Israeli-Palestinian peace. We do so in solidarity and partnership with many people and organizations, including both Jewish and Muslim groups. And solidarity means that we stand together. This is why we support the Combating International Islamophobia Act.
This bill was first suggested in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken in July by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and was signed by 23 additional members of Congress. The bill – introduced in October – requires the State Department to create a Special Envoy for monitoring and combating Islamophobia, as well as to include state-sponsored Islamophobic violence and impunity in the Department's annual human rights reports. This position would be a parallel to the existing Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Global Anti-Semitism, so there is already a model for this type of ombudsman in the Administration.
APN spoke up in support of this act before its introduction and we continue to encourage members of Congress to co-sponsor it.
Just as the US needs to rise up against all forms of antisemitism, we have an obligation to do the same around Islamophobia. Muslim Americans (and Muslims around the globe) deserve the same protection and support as do Jews, and for that matter, any group that faces rampant and sometimes violent discrimination and hatred.
As I said in the press release announcing the bill, “Just as it is necessary to have a special envoy to combat antisemitism, it is vitally important that the United States establish a Special Envoy to combat the scourge of Islamophobia. We stand in solidarity with Muslim victims of hatred and bigotry and we urge Congress to pass this important bill.”
We are proud of our partnership with Rep. Schakowsky and Rep. Omar, and are proud to support the Combating International Islamophobia Act. We hope you are too.
So please consider making a gift to APN today to help us continue fighting for what’s right on Capitol Hill and beyond.
Make a contribution to this work here.
Our advocacy for peace is inseparable from the work of fighting for tolerance, equality and justice. We’re in this together, and rely on your support and commitment to envision and work towards a better world for all.