Grooming gangs will be given "impunity" to carry out their crimes if a new definition of Islamophobia is passed, the Tories have warned.
Shadow Equalities Minister Claire Coutinho warned that the definition risks enhancing the "culture of censorship" by giving particular groups a "special status" over others.
She suggested Labour is only pushing ahead with the new definition to fend off threats by pro-Gaza candidates at the next election.
New housing and communities secretary, Steve Reed, has accepted the responsibility of providing a definition after Angela Rayner was forced to quit over her tax affairs.
In 2021, Mr Reed wrote to all Labour local authority leaders, urging them to provide a definition of Islamophobia written up by MPs.
Ms Coutinho told The Times: "Labour are doubling down by introducing a state-sanctioned definition of Islamophobia, which will intensify the culture of censorship that allowed the grooming gangs to carry out their crimes with impunity.
"An official definition of Islamophobia, specifically designed to be adopted by our institutions and public services, will shut down difficult but necessary conversations about grooming gangs, gender equality, and even Islamist extremism.
"It would create a special status for one group above others, which risks further breeding resentment and making our community cohesion problems worse."
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Claire Coutinho claimed that 'Labour are doubling down by introducing a state-sanctioned definition of Islamophobia'
| PAA source close to Mr Reed said: "The communities secretary is crystal clear - free speech must be protected alongside rightly tackling abhorrent anti-Muslim hatred.
"People don't have a right to not being offended, and we are not going to bring in blasphemy laws by the back door. There will be no infringement on free speech whatsoever."
The Government has created a group to provide recommendations on "appropriate and sensitive language" to describe "unacceptable treatment, prejudice and discrimination against Muslims".
Ministers faced criticism for limiting public input into the plans by circulating a call for evidence to only a few groups.
Plans have since been derailed after Ms Coutinho found a link to the online consultation and shared it publicly.
She said the policy is motivated by political concerns, suggesting: "Ministers argue they must provide a definition to tackle the very real anti-Muslim hate that people face, whether that be violence or harassment because of their religion.
"They talk about bricks being thrown through mosque windows, or hijabs being pulled off in the street. These are disgusting acts which are, rightly, already illegal - as evidenced by the people who have already been convicted under existing criminal law.
"In reality, Labour is not seeking to change criminal law. Instead, this is a misguided attempt to stave off the electoral threat that The Muslim Vote candidates pose to Labour seats."
Ms Coutinho said Labour's push for an Islamophobia definition 'is a misguided attempt to stave off the electoral threat that The Muslim Vote candidates pose to Labour seats'
| GETTYMs Coutinho said we must learn from the "horrific mistakes made over the grooming gangs and dangerous gender ideology" by not putting "some groups in society on a pedestal, free from legitimate challenge".
She added: "Labour must scrap this definition now."
Sir Keir Starmer announced a full national inquiry into grooming gangs in June after accepting the recommendations of an audit by Baroness Louise Casey.
The Prime Minister faced criticism for months prior for not being willing to set one up.
Reform UK leader hit out at Labour MPs who initially voted down a bill to set up a national inquiry in January, fuming: "What have they got to hide?"