Representatives of all major faiths in Britain have said that there are “profound concerns” about government plans to introduce a latest definition of “Islamophobia”.
The government has proposed moving away from the term Islamophobia, as an alternative choosing the phrase “anti-Muslim hostility”.
In a letter to the federal government, the religion groups said they were concerned that the plans would effectively privilege one religion over all others and threaten freedom of speech.
The letter states, “You have previously said that you’ll not accept any definition which restricts freedom of expression … However, the definition because it stands threatens to just do that.”
Concepts in the brand new definition, akin to “prejudicial stereotyping”, were condemned as being so vague and subjective that they might easily be used to suppress freedom of speech and stop criticism of Islam or Islamic practices.
“While the definition can be ‘non-statutory’, it could in practice be widely adopted across the private and non-private sector. Indeed the definition would look like pointless if this weren’t the case. We urge you to desert this proposal,” the letter reads.
It was signed by Christian Concern, the Network of Sikh Organisations, Muslims Against Anti-Semitism and the Hindu Council UK.
Tim Dieppe, on behalf of Christian Concern, argued that the brand new definition could itself represent a breach of equality law.
He said, “What the proposed definition of anti-Muslim hostility does is it goes beyond the law in giving Islam and Muslims special protection. In doing so it could constitute ‘illegal discrimination towards members of other faith groups.’”
Writing for Christian Today, evangelical leader David Robertson warned the definition might even be used sooner or later to silence those attempting to evangelise the Gospel to Muslims.
“I can see a day coming within the not-too-distant future when … writers like me might be prosecuted under the Islamophobia blasphemy law for spreading hate against Muslims. But preaching Christ and his word isn’t hatred, neither is it any form of phobia. It is Christian love,” he said.
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