IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 413 

Honoring the victims of hate crimes of Islamophobia and anti-immigrant 

sentiment, in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, where individuals 

were targeted by violence and hatred, because they were Muslim or 

perceived to be Muslim. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, 

Mr. TONKO, and Mr. HONDA) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the victims of hate crimes of Islamophobia and 

anti-immigrant sentiment, in the aftermath of September 

11, 2001, where individuals were targeted by violence 

and hatred, because they were Muslim or perceived to 

be Muslim. 

Whereas Arab, South Asian, Sikh, and Muslim American 

communities have been the targets of numerous hate 

crimes since the events of September 11, 2001; 

Whereas Islamophobia is a growing threat to communities 

and is on the rise, since the events of September 11, 

2001; 

Whereas Islamophobia is actively being spread by a network 

of closely connected and well-funded organizations and 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 413 IH 

activists that seek to propagate misinformation about 

Arabs, Islam, and American Muslims and provide support 

for legislation that curtails the rights of religious minorities; 

Whereas the Muslim population in the United States is estimated at around 7,000,000 and is made up of diverse 

ethnic participants; 

Whereas the Arab population in the United States is estimated at around 3,500,000, and that community is made 

up of diverse religious beliefs and countries of national 

origin; 

Whereas though many people may identify Muslims as being 

Arab, close to two-thirds of the Arab population is Christian; 

Whereas the Muslim community is incredibly diverse and 

made up of not only of Arabs, but also South Asians, 

Turks, Iranians, Bosnians, Malays, Indonesians, Nigerians, Somalis, Liberians, Kenyans, and Senegalese 

among others; 

Whereas the FBI identifies hate crime as ‘‘traditional offense 

like murder, arson, or vandalism with an added element 

of bias.’’; 

Whereas the war on terror in response to the September 11, 

2001, attacks has increased instances of Islamophobia 

and hate crimes committed against Muslims, or those 

thought to be Muslim; 

Whereas in 2001, reported FBI data showed there were 481 

incidents made up of 546 offenses having 554 victims of 

crimes motivated by bias toward the Islamic religion or 

committed against those perceived to be Muslim; 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 413 IH 

Whereas hate crimes touch not only the individual victim, but 

they also affect the entire group associated with the particular bias motivation; 

Whereas unfair and inaccurate stereotyping can make victims 

of all who share the same race, religion, ethnicity or national origin, sexual orientation, or disability; 

Whereas the rise of hate speech in the media contributes toward creating social bias against a sector of society, 

which fuels the ignorance that can drive certain individuals toward acts of hatred and violence; 

Whereas the ADC (American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee) documented over 700 violent incidents targeting 

Arab Americans in the first nine weeks following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; 

Whereas Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh, was gunned down in 

Mesa, Arizona, on September 15, 2001; 

Whereas Waqar Hasan was murdered in Dallas, Texas, on 

September 15, 2001; 

Whereas Adel Karas, an Egyptian Coptic Christian, was murdered in San Gabriel, California, on September 15, 2001; 

Whereas Ali Almansoop was murdered in Lincoln Park, 

Michigan, on September 17, 2001; 

Whereas Abdo Ali Ahmed was murdered in Reedly, California, on September 29, 2001; 

Whereas Vasudev Patel, a Hindu, was murdered in Dallas, 

Texas, on October 4, 2001; 

Whereas Abdullah Nimer was murdered in Los Angeles, California, on October 13, 2001; 

Whereas Ali W. Ali was murdered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, 

on October 15, 2001; and 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 413 IH 

Whereas Ramez Younan was murdered in Los Angeles, California, on October 18, 2001: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) wishes to recognize the victims and express 

3 condolences to surviving family members for this 

4 senseless loss of life due to Islamophobic hate crimes 

5 or hate crimes committed against those perceived to 

6 be Muslim in the United States; 

7 (2) represents and upholds the human rights 

8 and dignity of all its citizens and decries the esca9 lation of intimidation, violence, vandalism, and arson 

10 which continues to be on the rise against people or 

11 institutions perceived to be Muslim; and 

12 (3) recognizes the positive contributions which 

13 Arabs, Muslims, Sikhs, and South Asians make to 

14 United States society as part of the diverse fabric of 

15 cultures in the Nation and affirms to uphold the 

16 rights of religious freedom enshrined in the Con17 stitution. 

Æ 


smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS