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Biden administration announces new policy initiative to combat Islamophobia

Biden administration announces new policy initiative to combat Islamophobia

The The Biden administration announced a new social initiative on Thursday, tasked with eliminating Islamophobia and discrimination against people of Arab ethnicity.

The US National Strategy to Combat Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate is an administration-launched policy dedicated to preventing hate crimes against Muslims are and Arab Americans in the country. Touted by the administration as the first of its kind, the newly announced government policy lays out a guide for implementing federal policies aimed at combating Islamophobia and other discriminatory acts.

“Today, the White House is UNLEASHING the first US national strategy to combat Islamophobia and anti-Arab hatred”, a White house press release read. “The strategy was developed through a government-wide collaboration with a wide range of civil society partners to describe and address the bias, discrimination and threats that Muslim and Arab Americans have long faced.”

The White House referred to the killing of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi in October 2023, explaining the need for such a political decision. It also cited “other serious attacks on Muslim and Arab Americans” as a catalyst for the program.

“Over the past year, this initiative has become even more important as threats against American Arab and Muslim communities have increased,” the statement said.

To achieve its goal, the White House announced policies to be implemented through “100 Executive Branch Actions” and “100 Calls to Action” to address anti-Arab hate crimes in the country. The White House said the new program would focus on “every sector of society” to ensure that “Muslim and Arab Americans enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that underpin our country.”

“Through this initiative, we are creating a path forward, in partnership with all levels of government, civil society and the private sector, both now and in the long term,” the press release said.

The White House announced the four priorities that will comprise the new initiative: raising awareness of hatred against Muslims and Arabs while expanding recognition of their heritage, improving the safety of Muslims and Arabs, combating Muslim and Arab discrimination, and appropriately accommodating their religious practices and strengthening inter-community solidarity and collective action to combat discrimination.

“While individuals have sometimes been targeted because they are believed to be Muslim, it is also essential to recognize that Arabs are routinely targeted simply for being who they are,” the statement said in an elaboration of a among priorities. “Through new data collection and innovative educational efforts, the administration is raising awareness of these forms of hate, as well as the proud heritage of Muslim and Arab Americans.”

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The White House concluded its announcement by strengthening the country’s privileges and liberties and ensuring that such rights are available to all.

“We urge our state, local and international counterparts, as well as the non-governmental sector, to pursue similar initiatives that seek to build greater unity by recognizing our common humanity, affirming our shared values ​​and history, and embracing justice, freedom and equality. security for all,” the statement said.