(Alamy)
2 min read
The government working group tasked with producing a new Islamophobia definition has sent out a call for evidence to ask whether it should include racism.
The working group, led by former Conservative attorney general Dominic Grieve KC, is inviting interested individuals and organisations to provide views on the government adopting a working definition of Islamophobia.
The call for evidence will run for four weeks, closing on 13 July. All responses sent will be anonymous unless respondents choose to disclose evidence about themselves.
PoliticsHome has obtained the survey being sent to those interested in partaking, which contains 13 questions. The questionnaire looks for views on the terminology used, the need for a definition, what should be included, whether racism should be a component of the definition, and examples of anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia.
The Anti-Muslim Hatred / Islamophobia Working Group will report to Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Rayner launched the working group in February, with the number of anti-Muslim hate incidents having reached a record high in 2024, describing the move as a “crucial step forward in tackling it and creating a society where everyone feels safe and welcome”.
The working group is independent, and government sources say that the definition it proposes is for the consideration of ministers and might not necessarily be accepted. It is due to produce a definition by late summer.
Members of the group include Professor Javed Khan, Baroness Gohir, Akeela Ahmed of the British Muslim Network, and consultant Asha Affi.
The government rejected a request from PoliticsHome to disclose groups or individuals who had submitted evidence so far. In response to an FOI, the department said doing so would “unacceptably” erode a “safe space” for ministers and could cause “a chilling effect”.
The Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006, which is part of the Public Order Act 1986, makes it an offence to incite hatred against a person based on their religion or belief. Campaigners are concerned that an additional definition may risk duplicating law or creating confusion where legal measures already exist.
The government has sought to stress that any new Islamophobia definition will not undermine the right to free speech.
The Labour Party in 2019 accepted a definition of Islamophobia published by an all-party parliamentary group for British Muslims co-chaired by Wes Streeting, who is now the Health Secretary. The APPG defined it as being “rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness”.
