Government launches working group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia definition
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-28)

A new working group has been established to provide government with a working definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia.

It is the first duty of government to keep its citizens safe

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

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, Angela Rayner, 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 step forward in tackling it and creating a society where everyone feels safe and welcome.

The group will be chaired by Dominic Grieve KC, bringing his years of legal and government expertise to the role.

Dominic Grieve 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:
- Details of the Terms of Reference and membership can be found here: Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/working-group-on-anti-muslim-hatredislamophobia-definition)
- Incidents of hate crime and Islamophobia are at record high in England and Wales – as set out in recent government statistics (https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fhate-crime-england-and-wales-year-ending-march-2024%2Fhate-crime-england-and-wales-year-ending-march-2024&data=05%7C02%7CJamima.Westermann%40communities.gov.uk%7C1876cfe2b5664581330c08dd5757ed7f%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C638762757340382078%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=MQQU4A0vnXmx62QZc0jBcPLVYbkvk2jajPCmZhs4y0c%3D&reserved=0)