Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004
The Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-332, 118 Stat. 1282) was enacted on October 16, 2004. It orders the U.S. State Department to monitor global anti-Semitism, reporting annually to the United States Congress. [DOCID: f:publ332.108]
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GLOBAL ANTI-SEMITISM REVIEW ACT OF 2004
Page 118 STAT. 1282
Public Law 108-332 108th Congress
An Act
To require a report on acts of anti-Semitism around the
world. <<NOTE: Oct. 16, 2004 - [S. 2292]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Global Anti- Semitism Review Act of 2004. 22 USC 2651 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of
2004''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 22 USC 2731 note.>> FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Acts of anti-Semitism in countries throughout the world,
including some of the world's strongest democracies, have
increased significantly in frequency and scope over the last
several years.
(2) During the last 3 months of 2003 and the first 3 months
of 2004, there were numerous instances of anti-Semitic violence
around the world, including the following incidents:
(A) <<NOTE: Mahatir Mohammad.>> In Putrajaya,
Malaysia, on October 16, 2003, former Prime Minister
Mahatir Mohammad told the 57 national leaders assembled
for the Organization of the Islamic Conference that Jews
``rule the world by proxy'', and called for a ``final
victory'' by the world's 1.3 billion Muslims, who, he
said, ``cannot be defeated by a few million Jews.''.
(B) In Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15, 2003,
simultaneous car bombs exploded outside two synagogues
filled with worshippers, [...] 24 people and wounding
more than 250 people.
(C) In Australia on January 5, 2004, poison was used
to ignite, and burn anti-Semitic slogans into, the lawns
of the Parliament House in the state of Tasmania.
(D) In St. Petersburg, Russia, on February 15, 2004,
vandals desecrated approximately 50 gravestones in a
Jewish cemetery, painting the stones with swastikas and
anti-Semitic graffiti.
(E) In Toronto, Canada, over the weekend of March 19
through March 21, 2004, vandals attacked a Jewish
school, a Jewish cemetery, and area synagogues, painting
swastikas and anti-Semitic slogans on the walls of a
synagogue and on residential property in a nearby,
predominantly Jewish, neighborhood.
(F) In Toulon, France, on March 23, 2004, a Jewish
synagogue and community center were set on fire.
(3) Anti-Semitism in old and new forms is also increasingly
emanating from the Arab and Muslim world on a sustained
Page 118 STAT. 1283
basis, including through books published by government-owned
publishing houses in Egypt and other Arab countries.
(4) In November 2002, state-run television in Egypt
broadcast the anti-Semitic series entitled ``Horseman Without a
Horse'', which is based upon the fictitious conspiracy theory
known as the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. The Protocols have
been used throughout the last century by despots such as Adolf
[...] to justify violence against Jews.
(5) In November 2003, Arab television featured an anti-
Semitic series, entitled ``Ash-Shatat(or ``The Diaspora),
which depicts Jewish people hatching a plot for Jewish control
of the world.
(6) The sharp rise in anti-Semitic violence has caused
international organizations such as the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to elevate, and bring
renewed focus to, the issue, including the convening by the OSCE
in June 2003 of a conference in Vienna dedicated solely to the
issue of anti-Semitism.
(7) <<NOTE: Ed Koch.>> The OSCE convened a conference again
on April 28-29, 2004, in Berlin, to address the problem of anti-
Semitism with the United States delegation led by former Mayor
of New York City, Ed Koch.
(8) The United States Government has strongly supported
efforts to address anti-Semitism through bilateral relationships
and interaction with international organizations such as the
OSCE, the European Union, and the United Nations.
(9) Congress has consistently supported efforts to address
the rise in anti-Semitic violence. During the 107th Congress,
both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed
resolutions expressing strong concern with the sharp escalation
of anti-Semitic violence in Europe and calling on the Department
of State to thoroughly document the phenomenon.
(10) Anti-Semitism has at times taken the form of
vilification of Zionism, the Jewish national movement, and
incitement against Israel.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States Government should continue to strongly
support efforts to combat anti-Semitism worldwide through
bilateral relationships and interaction with international
organizations such as the OSCE, the European Union, and the
United Nations; and
(2) the Department of State should thoroughly document acts
of anti-Semitism that occur around the world.
SEC. 4. REPORTS.
Not later than November 15, 2004, the Secretary of State shall
submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives a one-time report on acts of anti-Semitism around the world, including a description of--
(1) acts of physical violence against, or harassment
of, Jewish people, and acts of violence against, or vandalism
of, Jewish community institutions, such as schools, synagogues,
or cemeteries, that occurred in each country;
(2) the responses of the governments of those countries to
such actions;
Page 118 STAT. 1284
(3) the actions taken by such governments to enact and
enforce laws relating to the protection of the right to
religious freedom of Jewish people;
(4) the efforts by such governments to promote anti-bias and
tolerance education; and
(5) instances of propaganda in government and nongovernment
media that attempt to justify or promote racial hatred or incite
acts of violence against Jewish people.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE TO MONITOR AND
COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM.
The State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 is amended by
adding after section 58 (22 U.S.C. 2730) the following new section:
``SEC. 59. <<NOTE: 22 USC 2731.>> MONITORING AND COMBATING ANTI-
SEMITISM.
``(a) Office To Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism.--
``(1) Establishment of office.--The Secretary shall
establish within the Department of State an Office to Monitor
and Combat anti-Semitism (in this section referred to as the
`Office').
``(2) Head of office.--
``(A) Special envoy for monitoring and combating
anti-semitism.--The head of the Office shall be the
Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating anti-Semitism
(in this section referred to as the `Special Envoy').
``(B) Appointment of head of office.--The Secretary
shall appoint the Special Envoy. If the Secretary
determines that such is appropriate, the Secretary may
appoint the Special Envoy from among officers and
employees of the Department. The Secretary may allow
such officer or employee to retain the position (and the
responsibilities associated with such position) held by
such officer or employee prior to the appointment of
such officer or employee to the position of Special
Envoy under this paragraph.
``(b) Purpose of Office.--Upon establishment, the Office shall
assume the primary responsibility for--
``(1) monitoring and combating acts of anti-Semitism and
anti-Semitic incitement that occur in foreign countries;
``(2) coordinating and assisting in the preparation of that
portion of the report required by sections 116(d)(7) and 502B(b)
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d)(7) and
2304(b)) relating to an assessment and description of the nature
and extent of acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement
for inclusion in the annual Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices; and
``(3) coordinating and assisting in the preparation of that
portion of the report required by section 102(b)(1)(A)(iv) of
the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C.
6412(b)(1)(A)(iv)) relating to an assessment and description of
the nature and extent of acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic
incitement for inclusion in the Annual Report on International
Religious Freedom.
``(c) Consultations.--The Special Envoy shall consult with domestic
and international nongovernmental organizations and multilateral organizations and institutions, as the Special Envoy considers appropriate to fulfill the purposes of this section.''.
Page 118 STAT. 1285
SEC. 6. INCLUSION IN Department Of STATE ANNUAL REPORTS OF
INFORMATION CONCERNING ACTS OF ANTI-SEMITISM
IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
(a) Inclusion in Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.--The
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 116(d) (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d))--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (8), (9), and (10),
as paragraphs (9), (10), and (11), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following
new paragraph:
``(8) wherever applicable, a description of the nature and
extent of acts of anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement that
occur during the preceding year, including descriptions of--
``(A) acts of physical violence against, or
harassment of Jewish people, and acts of violence
against, or vandalism of Jewish community institutions,
including schools, synagogues, and cemeteries;
``(B) instances of propaganda in government and
nongovernment media that attempt to justify or promote
racial hatred or incite acts of violence against Jewish
people;
``(C) the actions, if any, taken by the government
of the country to respond to such violence and attacks
or to eliminate such propaganda or incitement;
``(D) the actions taken by such government to enact
and enforce laws relating to the protection of the right
to religious freedom of Jewish people; and
``(E) the efforts of such government to promote
anti-bias and tolerance education;''; and
(2) after the fourth sentence of section 502B(b) (22 U.S.C.
2304(b)), by inserting the following new sentence: ``Wherever
applicable, a description of the nature and extent of acts of
anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement that occur, including
the descriptions of such acts required under section
116(d)(8).''.
(b) Inclusion in Annual Report on International Religious Freedom.--
Section 102(b)(1)(A) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)(1)(A)) is amended--
(1) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding after clause (iii) the following new clause:
``(iv) wherever applicable, an assessment and
description of the nature and extent of acts of
anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement that
occur in that country during the preceding year,
including--
``(I) acts of physical violence
against, or harassment of, Jewish
people, acts of violence against, or
vandalism of, Jewish community
institutions, and instances of
propaganda in government and
nongovernment media that incite such
acts; and
``(II) the actions taken by the
government of that country to respond to
such violence and attacks or to
eliminate such propaganda or incitement,
to enact and enforce laws relating to
the protection of the right to religious
freedom of
Page 118 STAT. 1286
Jewish people, and to promote anti-bias
and tolerance education.''.
(c) <<NOTE: Applicability. 22 USC 2151n note.>> Effective Date of
Inclusions.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall apply beginning with the first report under sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d) and 2304(b)) and section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6312(b)) submitted more than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Approved October 16, 2004.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2292:
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 150 (2004):
May 7, considered and passed Senate.
Oct. 8, considered and passed House, amended.
Oct. 10, Senate concurred in House amendments.
External links
- Report 2005
: Codified statute
- Text of the Act, via U.S. Government Printing Office.