Free speech campaigner attacks Labour for proposed definition of Islamophobia

The head of the Free Speech Union has raised concerns about the government's proposed definition of Islamophobia.

Conservative peer Lord Young of Acton warned of a "two-tier justice risk" if the planned definition were incorporated into advice given to police or authorities.

Lord Toby Young, head of the Free Speech Union, has previously raised concerns about defining the hate crime, arguing it "would have a chilling effect on free speech".

In February, the Government launched a working group to explore a definition of Islamophobia alongside combatting anti-Muslim hatred.

It comes after incidents of Islamophobia reached their highest number on record in 2024.

The definition will not have legal status and will provide the Government and "other relevant bodies" with an understanding of "unacceptable treatment and prejudice" against Muslim communities.

Chaired by former Attorney General Dominic Grieve KC, the group aims to deliver a definition within six months.

In the House of Lords debate this week, Lord Young asked for reassurance that any definition of Islamophobia would not be used in advice given to police or court services.

He also asked Prisons Minister Lord Timpson for an assurance that anti-Muslim hatred would not be treated differently to other forms of hate by authorities.

Responding, Lord Timpson said: "The Lord Chancellor is committed to doing a full review of policies to ensure that none of them contradicts the important principles of equality before the law."

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has previously warned that the government's adoption of an Islamophobia definition could mean a "blasphemy law via the back door".

In a briefing for the Free Speech Union, head of public policy at Christian Concern Tim Dieppe warned that the "promotion" of the concept of Islamophobia "risks silencing or censoring criticism of one religion above others".

He added: "Acknowledging this is not tantamount to supporting irrational prejudice against Muslims."

A number of UK political parties have already adopted a definition of Islamophobia proposed by a November 2018 report from the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims.

Their definition reads: "Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness."

The Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Scottish Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and Scottish Greens have all adopted the definition.

In the foreword of the Free Speech Union briefing, scientist and author Richard Dawkins called the idea that Islamophobia represented a form of racism "incorrect".

He said: "You can't convert to a race or leave it. The fact that you cant leave your race means that, if Islam is indeed a race, apostasy is literally impossible."

Apostasy is a term meaning the abandoning of a religious belief, which some Muslims believe can be punishable by death.

"Yet apostasy has to be possible in Islam or it couldn't be punishable by death.

"So the statement that Islamophobia is a form of racism is more than just incorrect. It contradicts a fundamental tenet of Islam."