NSS backs open letter against ‘Islamophobia’ definition

The National Secular Society has signed an joint letter urging the Government to abandon plans to adopt an 'Islamophobia' definition.

The Government has appointed a working group to create an official, non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia.

The open letter to the Government says the move "risks fuelling division rather than fostering social cohesion" at a time of "rising tensions, deepening mistrust, and urgent social challenges".

Islam "must be open to scrutiny, criticism, mockery and even condemnation"

The letter says the signatories "strongly oppose racism and discrimination in all their forms", and warns adopting an 'Islamophobia' definition "will do little to tackle prejudice and much to exacerbate problems by encouraging censorship, identity-based grievance, and the policing of speech".

It says the proposed definition "blurs the crucial distinction between race and religion".

"Islam is a belief system that, like all others, must be open to scrutiny, criticism, mockery and even condemnation," it says.

The letter highlights several incidents demonstrating the "danger of this confusion", including the abuse faced by former University of Bristol professor Steven Greer after he was accused of 'Islamophobia', and the teacher at Batley Grammar School forced into hiding after showing a picture of Muhammad in a lesson on free speech.

It says 'Islamophobia' definitions "often empower self-appointed community gatekeepers and stifle the diverse range of views that exist within Muslim communities themselves". This includes excluding voices from reformist and liberal Muslims, as well as ex-Muslims.

The letter adds that the definition would set a precedent for the creation of similar definitions for other groups, "turning public policy into a battleground of identity-based grievance and competing victimhood".

There have been several recent calls to criminalise 'Hinduphobia', which the NSS and others have warned would undermine the ability to criticise aspects of Hinduism.

The letter is co-ordinated by the Equiano Project and signed by representatives of 10 organisations, including religious and secular groups.

NSS: "Deeply concerned" definition could amount to reviving blasphemy laws

NSS chief executive said: "We have already seen how accusations of 'Islamophobia' have been used to silence legitimate concerns, particularly around issues such as grooming gangs, women's rights, and religious influence in education.

"We are therefore deeply concerned that a Government-backed definition of 'Islamophobia' could amount to reviving Britain's now abolished blasphemy laws.

"In addition to endangering freedom of expression, an 'Islamophobia' definition would risk fragmenting society further and undermining equal treatment before the law.

"We therefore join calls from organisations across the political spectrum for the Government to abandon this project, and tackle threats to social cohesion by embracing liberal, democratic principles of equality and human rights."