MPs Asked For Views On Islamophobia Definition

(Alamy)

2 min read03 July

The Islamophobia Working Group will meet MPs and peers next week as part of its work to produce a definition.

The working group, set up by the government in February and led by former Conservative attorney general Dominic Grieve KC, has invited parliamentarians to give their thoughts on how Islamophobia should be defined at an event in Parliament on Thursday, 10 July.

The letter to MPs and peers, seen by PoliticsHome, says the working group has not yet reached a conclusion about how Islamophobia should be defined, but stresses that it must be "compatible with the unchanging right of British citizens to exercise freedom of speech and expression".

It continues: “The format of this session will be aligned with other similar engagements undertaken by the working group since February, focusing on numerous areas of discussion.

“The working group will be grateful to hear your views, rather than answer any questions on the substance present."

The draft agenda is as follows:

10:00 – Opening remarks from the Chair – the RT Hon. Dominic Grieve
10:05 – Ensuring a definition protects the right to freedom of expression/speech
10:15 – Value of definition and whether government should adopt a definition
10:25 – Ensuring a definition is practical and applicable
10:35 – What should be included in a definition, the role of race/racism, and diverse identities and beliefs
10:45 – Terminology
10:55 – Closing remarks
11:00 – session ends

The group's call for evidence will run for four weeks and close on 13 July. All responses sent will be anonymous unless respondents choose to disclose evidence about themselves.

Last month, PoliticsHome obtained a survey that was sent to stakeholders interested in contributing to defining Islamophobia / anti-Muslim hate.

The questionnaire looked for views on the terminology used, the need for a definition, what should be included, whether racism should be a component of the definition, and examples of anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia.

The Anti-Muslim Hatred / Islamophobia Working Group will report to Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The government said it retains the right not to accept recommendations made by the group.