The UK government has released further details about a working group established to provide guidance on defining Islamophobia while ensuring the right to "insult" religious beliefs and practices remains protected.
The composition of the group suggests the government is engaging with the newly formed British Muslim Network (BMN) rather than the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), the largest umbrella organization claiming to represent British Muslims.
Former Conservative attorney general Dominic Grieve has been appointed as the group's chair, with BMN co-chair Akeela Ahmed among its four other members.
Earlier this year, reports indicated that the government was forming a working group to establish an official definition of anti-Muslim discrimination.
This move appears to signal a shift away from adopting the definition proposed in 2018 by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for British Muslims.
The definition, which was rejected by the Conservative government, faced criticism from some who argued it could suppress criticism of Islam—a claim that the APPG firmly denied.
Labour adopted the definition while in opposition, describing Islamophobia as "a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness."
However, in September 2024, Labour’s faith minister, Lord Wajid Khan, stated that the APPG’s definition did not align with the Equality Act 2010, which defines race based on color, nationality, and national or ethnic origins.
The terms of reference for the new working group, published on Monday, state that it will provide advice on "the merits of government adopting a non-statutory definition of unacceptable treatment of Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim, including what a proposed definition should be."
This confirms that the government has not yet committed to adopting any definition of Islamophobia.
In response to widespread criticism, the terms emphasize that any proposed definition "must be compatible with the unchanging right of British citizens to exercise freedom of speech and expression—including the right to criticize, express dislike of, or insult religions and/or the beliefs and practices of adherents."
Akeela Ahmed’s inclusion in the working group follows the official launch of the British Muslim Network (BMN) in February, an event supported by faith minister Khan. It also comes after Middle East Eye reported that the BMN had lost significant Muslim backing and was receiving support from a charity established by the disgraced former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
Ahead of the British Muslim Network’s (BMN) launch, Middle East Eye reported that several Muslim MPs privately decided not to attend due to past controversies.
Critics argue that the BMN’s leadership and advisory board lack credibility, warning that the government may use the network to continue avoiding engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB).
However, BMN’s leadership maintains that the government should interact with a "whole range" of Muslim organizations, including both the MCB and BMN.
Successive governments have consistently refused to engage with the MCB, despite its representation of over 500 member organizations, including mosques, schools, local councils, professional networks, and advocacy groups.
The Labour government under Keir Starmer has upheld this policy, even ignoring the MCB’s communications during the far-right riots that lasted for over a week in August.
Unlike the MCB, the BMN does not claim to be a broad representative body. However, its inclusion in the new working group suggests that the government is choosing to engage with it while continuing to sideline the MCB.
Another significant exclusion from the group is Tell Mama, an Islamophobia reporting service funded by the Ministry of Communities. The organization has been accused of under-reporting hate crimes, and The Guardian recently reported that its government funding will end in March, putting it at risk of closure.
Among the members of the working group is Professor Javed Khan, managing director of Equi, a newly established think tank that describes itself as "born out of the UK Muslim community."
Speaking at the parliamentary launch of an Equi report last month, Khan told MPs and civil society representatives that the think tank was "seeing engagement" from the Labour government, including ministers and special advisers.
"The government needs to be faith-literate in its policy development," he said.
The Equi report on Muslims in the British arts and culture sector highlighted concerns that Muslim creatives are frequently "herded" into seeking funding from the controversial Prevent counter-extremism programme, which, it argued, "often toxifies, devalues, and limits artistic intent."
Dominic Grieve, the chair of the working group, previously led the Citizens' UK Commission on Islam, which aimed to foster dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims. He also wrote the foreword to the controversial 2018 APPG report on Islamophobia, describing it as "food both for thought and positive action."
Last month, Grieve acknowledged that "defining Islamophobia is extremely difficult for perfectly valid reasons relating to freedom of expression." However, he also highlighted that "perfectly law-abiding Muslims, fully integrated into society, are still facing discrimination and abuse."
Another member of the working group is Baroness Shaista Gohir, a crossbench peer and CEO of Muslim Women's Network UK (MWNUK).
In late February, Middle East Eye reported that an MWNUK event in Parliament, scheduled for March to celebrate the "cultural contribution of Muslims in the UK," was supported by TikTok—the social media platform accused of censoring content about human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in China.
The group also includes Aisha Affi, an independent consultant.
According to the terms of reference, the working group has six months to present a proposed definition of Islamophobia to government ministers.
It is also stated that the government "reserves the right to disband the group at any time and without notice if it determines that the group is no longer fulfilling its aims and objectives."
Source: Middle East Eye by Imran Mulla
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