Increasing opposition to Islamophobia definition

Christian Concern : Tim Dieppe comments on the increasing opposition to a definition that would silence criticism of Islam.

‘Anti-Muslim hostility’ definition unlawful

The proposed government definition of ‘Islamophobia’, now re-worded as ‘Anti-Muslim hostility’, was leaked in December. I commented about it at the time, but more opposition to this newly proposed definition has now emerged.

Earlier this month, a new report from the Counter Extremism Group argued that the proposed definition is ‘unlawful’. The report argues that members of all faith groups have legal protection from discrimination or incitement. The point is that these protections apply to all equally. They protect the right to proselytise and practise a religion as well as the right for that same religion and its practices to be criticised without fear.

What the proposed definition of anti-Muslim hostility does is it goes beyond the law in giving Islam and Muslims special protection. In doing so it could constitute “unlawful discrimination towards members of other faith groups.”

The report notes that other minority faith groups, such as Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians, as well as Muslim groups regarded as unorthodox such as Ahmadis or Alevis, will perceive the adoption of an official definition of anti-Muslim hostility as “evidence of favouritism” towards Muslims or self-appointed Muslim community leaders. This will only serve to increase inter-communal tensions, rather than reduce them.

Evidence shows, that religiously aggravated hate crime is far more of a problem for the UK’s Jewish community than for Muslims. Anti-Muslim hate crime is wholly unacceptable, but rates are not increasing relative to the size of the Muslim population.

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Hindus opposed

Late last year, the Hindu Council UK published a letter to Steve Reed MP, Minister for Communities, objecting to the proposed definition. The letter warns of “vague and undefined concepts” in the definition such as “prejudicial stereotyping”. It also complains that the definition conflates people with beliefs and ideas:

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