Government launches ‘Islamophobia’ definition working group

The Government has launched a working group to create a definition of "Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia" within six months.

The group was set up by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner in response to record levels of anti-Muslim hate crime.

While recognising the commendable aim of combating hatred, the National Secular Society said the term 'Islamophobia' should be avoided, and any definition must "ensure free expression is protected".

The working group will create a non-statutory definition, and will be chaired by former attorney general and Conservative MP Dominic Grieve KC.

Grieve said: "We know Islamophobia is as challenging to define as its existence is undoubted.

"We need to balance addressing the lived experience of those who are victims of it and the right of British Muslims to feel heard and protected as equal citizens of our country, with the unwavering requirement to maintain freedom of thought and expression under law for all."

Grieve previously chaired the Citizens' UK Commission on Islam and wrote the forward to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims' report on defining Islamophobia.

The Labour Party, but not the Government, has already adopted the APPG definition.

Many campaigners, including the National Secular Society, have criticised the APPG definition for conflating race and religion, and being so broadly drafted as to chill legitimate criticism of Islam.

Last year, the Government's faith minister said the APPG definition was "not in line" with the Equality Act 2010, which defines race in terms of "colour, nationality and national or ethnic origins".

Former Labour MP Khalid Mahmood said an Islamophobia definition "will do nothing to create a society where everyone feels safe and welcome, but rather lead to even more division and mistrust".

Counter-extremism advisor Haras Rafiq warned: "There is a real danger that this term could be weaponised to silence legitimate debate, including discussions about Islamist extremism".

"No belief system, including Islam, should be beyond scrutiny, discussion, or even satire. True confidence in faith means being open to dialogue, not shutting it down", he added.

Growing concerns over emergence of 'backdoor blasphemy laws'

The creation of the working group comes amid growing concerns over the emergence of 'backdoor blasphemy laws'.

Blasphemy laws were repealed in England and Wales in 2008, but two men have been charged with public order offences in recent months for burning copies of the Quran.

One, Hamit Coskun, was reportedly charged with "intent to cause against religious institution of Islam, harassment, alarm or distress". Public order laws are generally understood to protect individuals, not institutions, from "intentional harassment, alarm or distress".

Last week, Conservative MP Katie Lam asked the Home Secretary: "Should it be a criminal offence to desecrate a Koran or any holy text: yes or no?" Yvette Cooper declined to give a direct answer.

In November, Labour MP Tahir Ali called for religious texts and "Abrahamic" prophets to be legally protected from "desecration". Prime Minister Keir Starmer offered no defence of free speech in his response, and only later did the Government rule out the reintroduction of blasphemy laws.

NSS: "We urge the Working Group to ensure free expression is protected"

National Secular Society chief executive Stephen Evans said: "While the intention to combat hatred is commendable, creating special protections for one particular faith will prove counterproductive to community cohesion.

"We welcome Dominic Grieve's recognition of the importance of safeguarding free speech. Individuals should be protected, not their beliefs. The term 'Islamophobia' should certainly be avoided due to its ambiguity and clear potential to be misused to shield the religion of Islam from criticism.

"We urge the Working Group to ensure free expression is protected."