Democrats in New Jersey Want Disliking Muslims To Be Illegal

Democratic lawmakers in New Jersey want to be the first state in the nation to adopt a legal definition of Islamophobia.If made law, the definition would mandate that public officials and law enforcement officers take Islamophobia into account as a possible motivation while investigating crimes.The move is already attracting national opposition, with actor Rob Schneider on social media calling it “a censorship law against criticizing Muslims” and right-wing provocateur Laura Loomer also weighing in against it. “This is basically an Islamic blasphemy law that has been introduced by lawmakers in New Jersey as a terror supporter heads to Congress from New Jersey,” wrote Ms. Loomer, referring to New Jersey Congressman-elect Dr. Adam Hamawy. “I warned you that the Islamification of America is now going to be put on steroids.”The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations did not return a request for comment.The bill, sponsored by moderate Democratic Assemblyman Joe Danielsen, defines Islamophobia as “a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness, which may be expressed as hatred toward Muslim persons” and gives numerous examples.Among the acts the bill would deem Islamophobic include “hostility and fear of Islam” and “a fear of and aversion to all Muslims or the majority of Muslims.”The bill would also rule “making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Muslims” as Islamophobic, including “the myth of Muslim identity having a unique propensity for terrorism, and claims of a demographic threat posed by Muslims or of a Muslim takeover.”Other Islamophobic acts would include “expressing an outlook or worldview involving an unfounded dread and dislike of Muslims, which results in practices of exclusion and discrimination” or accusing Muslim citizens of divided loyalties.However, the definition would not extend to criticism of any majority-Muslim country.“Awareness of this definition of Islamophobia will increase understanding of the parameters of contemporary Islamophobia crime and discrimination,” the bill’s authors said in a statement.The plan prompted fierce backlash from Republicans, who are in the minority in Trenton but looking to rally for legislative midterm elections next November.Conor Sweeney, a Republican councilman in the town of Peapack-Gladstone who announced last week he will seek a state Senate seat next year, called the bill “an attack on liberty.”“Defending our culture against radical Islam is NOT hate speech,” Mr. Sweeney said in a statement. “Our First Amendment protects our freedom of religion and our freedom of speech.”“What happens when it’s deemed ‘hateful’ to say women should be free to refuse to wear a burqa?” he added.The bill statement says the definition of Islamophobia is based on a UK definition arrived at by an informal, cross-party group that included British Parliament members from the House of Commons and House of Lords. In a process that became increasingly contentious during the last legislative session, a bipartisan bill to enshrine the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism into state law prompted protests and angry testimony from both sides. A state Senate committee adopted the bill in 2024 after a nine hour hearing and an Assembly panel followed suit in 2025. State troopers had to intervene last year when supporters and opponents of the bill engaged in a shoving match outside the Statehouse.The bill defining antisemitism failed to advance to a full floor vote as the legislative year expired early this past January.The Islamophobia definition bill has been pre filed but not yet formally introduced. No hearings or votes have yet been scheduled.

Democrats in New Jersey Want Disliking Muslims To Be Illegal

Democrats in New Jersey Want Disliking Muslims To Be Illegal

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