A new working group has been established to provide government
with a working definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia.
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It is the first duty of government to keep its citizens safe
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New group set to deliver a definition of Anti-Muslim
Hatred/Islamophobia within six months as incidents of
anti-Muslim hatred reach the highest number on record in
2024
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The definition will provide guidance to government and other
bodies to support further action on tackling religiously
motivated hate, delivering on the Plan for Change safer
streets mission
A new working group has been established to provide government
with a definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, supporting
a wider stream of work to tackle the unacceptable incidents of
anti-Muslim hatred.
It will advise government on how to best understand, quantify and
define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime targeted against
Muslims.
With incidents of anti-Muslim hate crime at record high in
England and Wales, the group's work will support wider and
ongoing government-led efforts to tackle religiously motivated
hate crime – delivering on the government's Plan for Change
mission for safer streets.
Deputy Prime Minister, ,
said:
The rise in anti-Muslim hate crime is unacceptable and has no
place in our society.
That's why we've committed to defining Anti-Muslim
Hatred/Islamophobia, as a crucial steps forward in tackling it
and creating a society where everyone feels safe and
welcome.
The group will be chaired by KC, bringing his years of
legal and government expertise to the role.
KC
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.
I welcome the government's decision to bring forward this needed
work and I am hopeful that this commission will come up with
principles in defining Islamophobia which are compatible with
those requirements and can thus help support positive change in
our country.
Alongside drawing on their own expertise, members will engage
widely to ensure the definition accounts for the variety of
backgrounds and experiences of Muslim communities across the
United Kingdom.
The group's proposed definition will be non-statutory and will
provide the government and other relevant bodies with an
understanding of unacceptable treatment and prejudice against
Muslim communities.
The group's proposed definition must be compatible with the
unchanging right of British citizens to exercise freedom of
speech and expression - which includes the right to criticise,
express dislike of, or insult religions and/or the beliefs and
practices of adherents.
Notes to editors:
