SB 624: Assault and battery; definition of “Islamophobia”
🟡 THREAT LEVEL: MODERATE
BILL SNAPSHOT
Bill Number: SB 624
Bill Patron: Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim (D)
Bill Area: Assault and Battery
Who This Bill Affects: Faith-based communities, law enforcement & prosecutors, victims of crimes, the Virginia State Police
QUICK SUMMARY
SB 624 creates a specific definition of “Islamophobia” in Virginia law and applies it to assault and battery cases. The bill treats crimes motivated by hostility toward Islam or Muslims as hate crimes, even if the victim is not Muslim but was targeted because the attacker believed they were. It also requires this definition to be included in the State Police hate crime reporting system.
RALLY ANALYSIS
SB 624 elevates one specific religion for special legal treatment by creating a standalone definition of Islamophobia within criminal law.
While violence motivated by hatred should always be condemned and prosecuted, Virginia law already addresses religious bias and hate crimes broadly, without singling out one faith.
By carving out a separate definition, the bill risks unequal application of justice and injects subjective ideology into criminal enforcement.
In addition, allowing the Office of DEI to define criminal standards politicizes law enforcement and leads to unequal enforcement.
Criminal penalties should be clear, neutral, and evenly applied, not shaped by political or ideological frameworks.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Virginia should enforce laws that protect everyone equally, without creating special categories that undermine fairness or clarity. Instead, SB 624:
- Creates unequal treatment under the law by singling out one religion
- Expands DEI influence into criminal justice policy
- Existing hate crime laws already protect religious groups
- Sets a precedent for fragmenting criminal law by ideology
RALLY VERDICT: ❌ OPPOSE
SB 624 is unnecessary and divisive, duplicating existing hate crime protections while introducing ideological language into criminal law.
BOTTOM LINE: Rally Virginia supports equal protection, equal justice, and laws that unite Virginians, not divide them.
RALLY RADAR — THREAT LEVEL LEGEND
⚫ CRITICAL THREAT — Immediate and severe harm; must be stopped
🔴 HIGH THREAT — Serious risk to safety, liberty, or governance
🟡 MODERATE THREAT — Concerning but limited scope
🟢 LOW THREAT — Minimal impact or symbolic
