Islamophobia Definition Shelved By Government

The government has dropped work on an official definition of Islamophobia that was promised more than three years ago, amid mounting concern over inaction on the issue. Muslims are the most frequently targeted group for religious hate crimes in England and Wales, while a string of scandals have exposed antiMuslim hatred within the Conservative Party.

- Lizzie Dearden

Ministers will be questioned on the issue in parliament tomorrow, which marks the start of Islamophobia Awareness Month. Labour MP Afzal Khan is to raise a point of order asking why successive prime ministers have not responded to any of his letters concerning the matter for two years.

"Their lack of action since 2018, coupled with the damning allegations made by Conservative MP Nusrat Ghani, all show that they simply do not take the issue seriously," he told The Independent. "Year after year, British Muslims are victims of the highest proportion of religiously motivated hate crime. This trend shows no sign of abating under the Conservative government. Yet this revolving door of chaos has meant that consecutive prime ministers have failed to tackle Islamophobia and deliver on their promises."

In May 2019, the late James Brokenshire - then the communities secretary - said the government would seek to establish a working definition of Islamophobia, adding: "To get a firmer grip on the nature of this bigotry and division, we agree there needs to be a formal definition of Islamophobia to help strengthen our efforts." An adviser was appointed, but work stopped after Boris Johnson became prime minister, and current communities secretary Michael Gove opposes the establishment of a definition.