Labour accused of appeasing 'sectarian voting bloc' as new 'anti-Muslim hostility' definition formally unveiled

The new definition has defined anti-Muslim hostility as "intentionally engaging in, assisting or encouraging criminal acts... that are directed at Muslims because of their religion or at those who are perceived to be Muslim."

It also defines the term as "prejudicial stereotyping of Muslims... and treating them as a collective group defined by fixed and negative characteristics, with the intention of encouraging hatred against them, irrespective of their actual opinions, beliefs or actions as individuals".

The guidance adds: "It is engaging in unlawful discrimination where the relevant conduct... is intended to disadvantage Muslims in public and economic life."

Despite the official definition, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has affirmed that "open debate" surrounding the religion must be protected.

It stressed that critiquing aspects of a religion or "portraying it in a manner that some of its adherents might find disrespectful or scandalous" is a fundamental pillar of free speech.

However, despite the Government's assertion, critics have warned an official definition still risks stifling legitimate debate and questioned why it was a necessary move given religiously motivated hate crimes are already outlawed.

Lord Walney, the former Government extremism adviser, said: "I can understand why British Muslims want support in the face of rising intolerance but I am not convinced this will help given extensive hate crime laws that already exist and the fact that religion is already listed as an aggravating factors in assault.

"I am deeply concerned that Islamist extremists will use this new definition to deflect scrutiny from their quest to undermine our values and intimidate fellow Muslims."

Reform UK's Sarah Pochin, meanwhile, said: "This definition is yet another assault on free speech from a Labour Party that seeks to appease a sectarian voting bloc at the expense of British values.

"No religion or idea should be beyond scrutiny or ridicule in a free and democratic society."

And Shadow Communities Minister Paul Holmes added: "This definition is so broad and subjective that it risks creating a back-door blasphemy law, with a chilling effect on free speech and legitimate criticism of Islamist extremism.

"Anti-Muslim hatred is unacceptable, but Britain already has strong laws to tackle hate crime and discrimination, and they should be enforced.

He also accused Labour of "pandering to the politics of sectarianism" over "focusing on the shared values that unite our country".

"Identity politics is a dead end, not a route to a cohesive society," Mr Holmes added.

Despite the warnings, ministers have insisted the formal definition will be a "tool for government and organisations to better understand, measure, prevent and address anti-Muslim hostility".

Speaking in the House of Commons, Communities Secretary Steve Reed said "you can't tackle a problem if you can't describe it".

He told MPs: "We will not do what [the Conservatives] did and stand by and simply watch while Muslim communities face targeted abuse in ways that any decent country would consider to be absolutely intolerable."

In February 2025, Labour ministers set up a working group to create an official definition of Islamophobia.

However, in October, it was revealed that the Government had moved away from the word "Islamophobia" and pivoted to "anti-Muslim hostility" instead.

The move has received the support of the British Muslim Trust - a Government-funded "hate monitoring" organisation.

Its chairman Shabir Randeree has said the definition will "help guide institutions that have too often been too slow or too weak in their responses to incidents a tolerant and respectful country like ours must never accept".

He added: "Anyone who tells you things can continue as they are simply isn't serious."

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