(TheLibertyRevolution.com)- In mid-December, the House passed Ilhan Omar’s “Combating International Islamophobia Act” which would create another bureaucracy within the State Department to “monitor and combat Islamophobia and Islamophobic incitement” in foreign countries.
But some critics point out what’s missing from the legislation is any clear definition of what constitutes “Islamophobia.” But that’s probably by design.
No doubt, Ilhan would define it as “anything that hurts my feelings or can be used to flog my Marxist, anti-Israel agenda.”
Texas Republican Congressman Michael McCaul said on the House floor that while he supports the “spirit and intent” of the bill, as it is written, the bill is “so vague and subjective” it could empower the executive branch to crackdown on free speech for partisan purposes.
Well, yeah. That’s probably the point.
Ilhan Omar has a long history of tossing around the word “Islamophobia” to silence her enemies. Is it at all surprising that a piece of legislation from her office would create a State Department office to do the same thing?
Muslim scholar Dalia al-Aqidi, a senior fellow at the Center for Security Policy, agreed with Congressman McCaul’s assessment of the bill. Without a clear definition of what constitutes “Islamophobia,” al-Aqidi believes criticism of Hamas, Hezbollah, or Iran could fall under the term “Islamophobia.” Likewise, referring to Hamas as a terrorist organization could also be considered “Islamophobia” under this bill.
Al-Aqidi argues that Muslims living under oppressive regimes in Iran or Turkey could also be accused of “Islamophobia” for protesting the Islamist governments. So this legislation could ultimately silence the very oppressed Muslims this bill is supposed to protect. Calling the bill “very dangerous,” al-Aqidi said the legislation is “an abuse of the freedom of speech and freedom of religion” in the West.
Al-Aqidi points out that Omar’s legislation is supported by Islamist extremists and “the governments of extreme ideology” who would exploit this bill and the laws of the United States “to oppress their own people.”
The White House announced that President Biden looks forward to signing the bill if it passes the Senate.
