UK to Establish Council for Defining Islamophobia

The UK government is set to create a council aimed at advising on issues related to Islamophobia, as announced by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Arab News reported. This initiative will involve 16 members tasked with formulating a new official definition of Islamophobia in the UK.

Former Conservative Minister Dominic Grieve is reportedly the frontrunner to lead the council, having previously chaired the Citizens’ UK Commission on Islam, which focused on defining anti-Muslim hate. Qari Asim, a Leeds-based imam and former government advisor, is also in consideration for a position on the council.

Grieve has expressed support for a 2018 all-party parliamentary group report that defined Islamophobia as a form of racism targeting expressions of Muslim identity. He noted the challenges in defining Islamophobia due to concerns about freedom of expression, emphasizing that law-abiding Muslims often face discrimination and abuse.

In addition to addressing Islamophobia, Rayner plans to establish a similar council focused on antisemitism and broaden the reporting of anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish hate incidents in the UK. A spokesperson for Rayner’s department stated that all forms of religious and racial hatred are unacceptable in society and that the government is committed to fostering strong relationships with faith communities.

Further details regarding the council’s formation and its objectives are expected to be announced soon, as the government seeks to tackle racial and religious hatred more effectively.