Islamophobia What Is It And Why Is It Causing The Tories So Much Angst?

Lee Anderson's comments about Sadiq Khan and London being under the control of "Islamists" led to the MP being stripped of the Tory whip, but Rishi Sunak and senior Tories have refused to label them Islamophobic, which has opened up a row over the term.

- Haroon Siddique

Here, we examine why it is so contested.

Is there an official definition of Islamophobia?

No. The nearest to an official definition in Britain came with the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on British Muslims' 2019 definition of the term: "Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness." While it was adopted by many organisations, including the Labour party, Lib Dems, and Scottish Conservatives, it was not adopted by the Westminster government or the Conservative party in England.

Why didn't the government adopt the definition?

It said the definition had "not been broadly accepted" and needed further consideration. In 2021, the government said it was "not in line with the Equality Act 2010 and would have severe consequences for freedom of speech". Islam is protected as a religion, but Muslims are not defined as a race so aren't covered by protections against racial discrimination in the act.

Is there an inconsistency with the government having adopted a definition of antisemitism?

In 2016, the government adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which has also been adopted by all of the main UK parties.