Whitehall mandarins have been receiving anti-Islamophobia training from an organisation which once claimed the word "Islamist" was discriminatory.
Civil servants at Ed Miliband's Energy Security & Net Zero department (DESNZ) sat through an hour-long course in November, costing £350.
The news comes after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner set up a group organised to define Islamophobia, despite claims it would affect free speech.
Anti-Islamophobia Working Group (AIWG) conducted the training session for the mandarins.
The group claims to be an "apolitical coalition of civil society organisations and experts coming together to raise awareness and urge change to tackle Islamophobia in the UK".
A 2024 report about Strategies for Eradicating Islamophobia, uncovered by The Telegraph, revealed that the group said referring to "Islamists" or "jihadists" could vilify all Muslims.
"Public officials should refrain from using terms like ‘Islamists’ and ‘jihadists’ when referring to criminals who commit any form of crime, to promote responsible and non-discriminatory language," the report stated.
“Using these terms to describe criminals can lead to stigmatisation and the unjust association of an entire religious or cultural group with criminal behaviour. Instead, public officials should opt for more precise and neutral language to describe criminal activities."
PA | Civil servants at Ed Miliband's Energy Security and Net Zero department were put through the hour-long session
The report also said that "using these terms to describe criminals" could lead to stigmatisation and unjustly associating an entire religious or cultural group with criminal behaviour.
"Instead, public officials should opt for more precise and neutral language to describe criminal activities," the report continued.
"By doing so, they can avoid perpetuating negative stereotypes and help maintain a more inclusive, fair and informed public discourse."
The provider and cost of the training came after new Conservatives Chairman Kevin Hollinrake composed a written question.
PA | Michael Shanks MP was questioned about the session
Net Zero Minister Michael Shanks instead said the department was "committed to creating a culture where all colleagues feel valued and supported, in line with our 'inclusive' value".
In response to an earlier question from the Tories, Shanks said the Government "cannot share the content" of the AIWG workshop as it was given by an external provider.
Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho said it was "deeply concerning" that the department was not prepared to "share the content of this session".
“Without transparency there is a risk that training is embedding deeply contested ideology into the civil service, which is meant to be impartial," Coutinho said.
“Frankly, officials’ time would be better spent on bringing down the cost of energy bills.”
In an interview with Muslim News at the 2015 General Election, Miliband pledged to make Islamophobia an "aggravated crime".
The AIWG's report also criticised former Home Secretary Suella Braverman over her comments about the weekly pro-Palestine protests after the October 7 attacks and following Gaza bombardment by Israel.
“The then Home Secretary ... branded [the] pro-Palestine demonstrations as ‘hate marches’, arguably inciting division and emboldening far-Right sentiments,” it said.
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|A stock image of Whitehall
The group added that it was "gravely concerning", adding that it warranted urgent action in the midst of a "surge in Islamophobia".
The AIWG also asked ministers to define Islamophobia, saying it "is a stereotypical and negative perception of Muslims, which may be expressed as hatred of Muslims".