The government has established a new working group to deliver a definition of Islamophobia/anti-Muslim hatred within six months.

The move comes as figures show anti-Muslim hatred reached the highest on record in 2024 and marks a sharp departure from the previous Conservative government’s reluctance to engage with the issue.

Chaired by Dominic Grieve KC, the former Conservative Attorney General, the group will advise the government on how to understand, quantify and define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crimes targeted against Muslims. 

“The rise in anti-Muslim hate crime is unacceptable and has no place in our society,’ said Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner.

“That’s why we’ve committed to defining Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, as a crucial steps forward in tackling it and creating a society where everyone feels safe and welcome.” 

The definition will guide the government and other bodies in tackling religiously motivated hate, which aligns with its ‘Plan for Change’ safer streets mission. The work is part of a wider stream of work to tackle anti-Muslim hatred. 

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) welcomed the move as “a long-awaited step towards addressing the alarming rise in hate crimes against Muslim communities.”

The group was particularly encouraged by the appointment of Grieve as chair of the working group. “Mr Grieve has consistently demonstrated a principled approach to engaging with Muslim communities and has been a respected voice in discussions about tackling Islamophobia,” it said. 

Definition of Islamophobia

A definition of Islamophobia has already been developed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims, which numerous political parties and organisations have widely accepted. 

The main opposition to this definition has come from the Conservatives and others hostile towards British Muslims.

Dr Naomi Green, Assistant Secretary General of the MCB, said: “We welcome the government’s commitment to addressing the scourge of Islamophobia through this working group.

“While we are open to any improvements to existing definitions, we hope that the working group will remain vigilant against attempts to water down what has already been developed and widely accepted.

“The ultimate test of any definition will be whether it effectively protects British Muslims from the direct hatred and discrimination they may individually face in their daily lives and the more structural racism that has been identified within the justice system, media, politics and the workforce.”

The government said members of the group will engage widely to ensure the definition accounts for the variety of backgrounds and experiences of Muslim communities across the United Kingdom. 

Grieve said: “We know Islamophobia is as challenging to define as its existence is undoubted. We need to balance addressing the lived experience of those who are victims of it and the right of British Muslims to feel heard and protected as equal citizens of our country, with the unwavering requirement to maintain freedom of thought and expression under law for all.” 

“I welcome the government’s decision to bring forward this needed work and I am hopeful that this commission will come up with principles in defining Islamophobia which are compatible with those requirements and can thus help support positive change in our country.”

Image credit: UK Parliament website