An Open Letter on the Government’s Proposed Definition of “Islamophobia”

We, organisations from across the moral, political and ideological spectrum, including faith groups and secular organisations, write to express serious concern about the UK Government’s ongoing efforts to adopt a non-statutory definition of “Islamophobia”. At a time of rising tensions, deepening mistrust, and urgent social challenges, this move risks fuelling division rather than fostering social cohesion.

We strongly oppose racism and discrimination in all their forms. We also recognise the many benefits of living in a multiethnic and multifaith society. But adopting an official definition of “Islamophobia” will do little to tackle prejudice and much to exacerbate problems by encouraging censorship, identity-based grievance, and the policing of speech.

The proposed definition blurs the crucial distinction between race and religion. Islam is a belief system that, like all others, must be open to scrutiny, criticism, mockery and even condemnation. Equating criticism of Islam with racism misrepresents the nature of both and undermines long-standing principles of free expression.

We have already seen the dangers of this confusion. The term “Islamophobia” has been used to silence legitimate concerns, particularly around issues such as grooming gangs, women’s rights, and religious influence in education. Former Bristol University professor Steven Greer faced life-threatening abuse following baseless accusations of Islamophobia. In Batley, a teacher remains in hiding after showing an image of the Prophet Muhammad during a lesson on free speech, with little institutional support or public defence. Acts of protest such as publicly burning the Qur’an are increasingly framed as “Islamophobic”, effectively reviving blasphemy norms in all but name. Yet blasphemy laws were formally abolished in England and Wales in 2008, and in Scotland in 2021. Labelling religious offence as “hate” risks granting special protections to ideas and beliefs, in direct conflict with democratic principles of open debate.

Far from protecting Muslims from harm, definitions like this often empower self-appointed community gatekeepers and stifle the diverse range of views that exist within Muslim communities themselves. Reformist, liberal, ex-Muslim, and secular Muslim voices are particularly vulnerable to being labelled and excluded.

It also sets a precedent for the creation of similar definitions for other groups, turning public policy into a battleground of identity-based grievance and competing victimhood. This risks fragmenting society further and undermining equal treatment before the law.

For the reasons given above, we urge the government to abandon its endeavour to define Islamophobia; ‘anti-Muslim hatred’ is clear, sufficient and already covered in law.

The Equiano Project

Don’t Divide Us

National Secular Society

Fiyaz Mughal, Founder of Muslims Against Antisemitism

Academics for Academic Freedom

Christian Concern

Hardeep Singh, deputy-director, Network of Sikh Organisations

Free Speech Union

Oxford Institute for British Islam

Scottish Union for Education

This open letter originally appeared on the Equiano Project Substack. Image credit: Equiano Project