The bill, introduced in October by U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., would create a new special envoy to monitor and combat Islamophobia globally. It passed the House last December 219-212, with near-unanimous support from Democrats.
The Combating International Islamophobia Act, which appears stalled in the U.S. Senate, is receiving a new boost from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) and other Islamist organizations.
It has not moved in the Senate, however. It is an ambiguous initiative that could create more problems than the ones it aspires to address. If this bill becomes law, critics fear it will contribute to weakening U.S. support of Israel, and disable criticism of Islamist activities both abroad and in the United States.
In December, the White House issued a statement supporting the bill as a way to protect religious freedom.
But the bill as written does not ensure equal dignity and respect of religions.
"This bill doesn't make it clear whether the term Islamophobia includes for example, criticizing radical Islamic terrorist groups or calling out the persecution of Christians," Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, said before December's House vote. "Is it Islamophobic to oppose unacceptably intolerant blasphemy laws or criticize those who call for the destruction of Israel?"
Iranian journalist, author and women's rights campaigner Masih Alinejad opposed the bill in a January Washington Post op-ed, saying that it "might be creating precedents that could undermine our freedom to speak out." Other Iranian dissidents worry about the bill's effect on free expression.