A protracted-awaited definition of Islamophobia is anticipated inside weeks – and a former religion minister is urging the federal government to undertake it in full.
It’s anticipated that the federal government will transfer away from the phrase “Islamophobia”, as a substitute changing it with “anti-Muslim hostility”.
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Lord Khan. Pic: PA
“There’s so many definitions on the market, this is a chance to deal with the large downside in our communities.
“I would request and urge the government to adopt the definition which fits within the terms of reference on what we wanted to do when we embarked on the process.
“It is a sturdy message to our communities that the work that must be finished is not being finished – these are lived experiences and I’m a type of individuals who has suffered.”
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There was a suspected arson assault at a mosque in East Sussex earlier this month. Pic: Eddie Mitchell
Chaired by former Conservative minister Dominic Grieve, an unbiased working group has been taking a look at whether or not to provide a brand new definition of Islamophobia since February as a part of a authorities bid to sort out the rise in hate crimes in the direction of British Muslims.
Its goal was to “define unacceptable treatment, prejudice, discrimination and hate targeting Muslims or anyone who is perceived to be Muslim”.
From the start, ministers have insisted that any new definition wouldn’t infringe on freedom of speech, that it will shield the fitting to criticise, categorical dislike of, or insult religions and it will not pave the best way for blasphemy legal guidelines to move “through the back door”.
In 2021, Labour adopted a working definition of Islamophobia from a cross-party group supported by Wes Streeting, which mentioned: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.”
This outdated definition has shaped the idea of the Conservatives’ concern with the federal government’s coverage on this new one.
“What I deeply worry about is putting one group on a pedestal and giving them special protections because that will only breed resentment.”
When pressed on why different protected teams ought to have a definition, she mentioned: “With the antisemitism definition, there was an international consensus and it was combating a specific thing, which was Holocaust denial.
“When you take a look at this definition, it is primarily based on an earlier model and one of many issues it mentioned in 2018 was that even speaking in regards to the grooming gangs was a type of anti-Muslim hatred.”
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Claire Coutinho. Pic: PA
British Muslims say they nonetheless face discrimination – and with out a particular definition of Islamophobia, crimes can typically go underreported. Based on a number of monitoring teams, hate crimes have gone up considerably, with Dwelling Workplace information displaying a surge of 20% final 12 months, making Muslims the goal in almost half of religion-based offences.
Nonetheless, coverage teams say the results of adopting a definition could possibly be a “fundamental social and structural change” by the again door, with out democratic consent.
The Coverage Change thinktank claimed that if the federal government adopts a hard and fast definition, activists will use it to problem counter-terrorism legal guidelines and undermine the Forestall programme, which goals to steer individuals away from extremism.
Ministers are set to resolve within the coming weeks on what they are going to undertake within the report and whether or not will probably be revealed, with Communities Secretary Steve Reed formally making the announcement when that call is made.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Native Authorities spokesperson mentioned: “We do not comment on leaks. The department is carefully considering the independent Working Group’s advice on a definition of anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia, and no government decisions have been made.
“We are going to all the time defend freedom of speech, together with fiercely defending the fitting to criticise, categorical dislike of, or insult religions and the beliefs and practices of those that comply with them. This may stay on the entrance of our minds as we evaluation the definition.”
