Angela Rayner’s latest definition of Islamophobia risks introducing “blasphemy laws through a back door”, a former Labour MP has claimed.
Lord Walney, who served as the government adviser on political violence and disruption until last month, warned that Islamist extremism and Islamist terrorism is “the greatest threat this country faces”, even after the Southport riots, and Labour must continue to recognise this.
Labour ministers have established a “working group” to come up with an official definition of Islamophobia – or anti-Muslim hatred – over the course of the next six months.
Former Tory minister Dominic Grieve will chair a new council to carry out this task to advise the Deputy Prime Minister’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to advise officials on a definition.
Rayner’s planned definition goes against his suggestions and could even risk bringing in “a blasphemy law by the back door”
PA
However, Rayner’s planned definition goes against his suggestions and could even risk bringing in “a blasphemy law by the back door”.
The Labour Party’s own definition of Islamophobia – which was created in 2018 – has received criticism for suffocating free debate, as Lord Walney admitted that it was developed by “well meaning people” whose path was derailed by “less well-meaning people” to come up with a definition that would “curtail discussion”.
If that same definition was embedded into legislation, the peer warned that it would “literally brand taboo the subject that we need to be talking more about to protect ourselves”.
He added that ministers must express their opposition “more clearly” to allow people to criticise religion more freely – “which we do all the time to Christianity”.
The Labour Party’s own definition of Islamophobia – which was created in 2018 – has received criticism for suffocating free debate
PA
Although he insisted that burning of sacred texts is “abhorrent and disrespectful”, he stressed that it must not be illegal.
The ex-adviser added that he preferred the term “Anti-Muslim Hatred” over “Islamophobia” as he indicated that the second term has the power to implement “unintended consequences”.
“You have to work that bit harder if you’re going to call this Islamophobia. You’ve got to work that bit harder to make the distinction and to carve out freedom of speech and make sure that you don’t introduce a blasphemy law by the back door,” he said.
Last week, Angela Rayner said that the increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes is “unacceptable and has no place in our society” which is why the Government has plans to tackling such hatred to create a society “where everyone feels safe and welcome”.
She confirmed that the group will be chaired by Dominic Grieve, accompanied with his “years of legal and government experience”.
Meanwhile, Grieve admitted that “Islamophobia is as challenging to define as its existence is undoubted”.
He also addressed the 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”.
He continued: “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.”
