(The Post Millennial) Virginia State Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (D-Fairfax) has introduced Senate Bill 624, legislation that would define “Islamophobia” within Virginia’s assault laws and require law enforcement to track crimes allegedly motivated by anti-Islam bias. The bill would amend Virginia’s existing assault statute to recognize Islamophobia as “malicious prejudice or hatred directed toward Islam."
The legislation would also direct the Virginia State Police, with directions from the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, to incorporate the definition of Islamophobia into the state's hate crime reporting wing. Supporters of the law say the change would help police more accurately identify and classify bias-motivated offenses against Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim.