Angela Rayner’s Plan for Islamophobia Council Sparks Free Speech Concerns

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Angela Rayner is moving forward with plans to establish a government advisory council on Islamophobia, aiming to create an official definition of anti-Muslim discrimination and advise ministers on tackling the issue. The 16-member council, set to be part of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), has already sparked controversy, with critics warning that it could lead to restrictions on free speech and the introduction of a de facto blasphemy law.  

 

Dominic Grieve, the former Conservative attorney general and an outspoken opponent of Brexit, has been suggested as the potential chair of the council. Grieve has a history of involvement in efforts to combat Islamophobia, having chaired the Citizens’ UK Commission on Islam and contributed to a 2018 all-party parliamentary group report that attempted to define Islamophobia. That definition was later adopted by the Labour Party but faced criticism for being overly broad, with concerns that it could suppress legitimate criticism of Islam as a religion.  

 

Among those shortlisted for a position on the council is Qari Asim, a Leeds imam who was dismissed from his role as a government adviser in 2022 after supporting a ban on *The Lady of Heaven*, a film about the Prophet Mohammed’s daughter. The film's release was met with protests from some Muslim groups, leading to accusations that calls for its censorship were an attempt to enforce religious restrictions on free expression.  

 

The government has yet to confirm whether it will adopt the all-party group's 2018 definition of Islamophobia or seek an alternative, but critics are already calling for the plans to be abandoned. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has urged ministers to reject the proposal, arguing that it threatens fundamental freedoms.  

 

**"The Government should drop its plans for such a deeply flawed definition of Islamophobia. Of course, we should tackle anti-Muslim hate wherever it occurs, but this definition is a Trojan horse for a blasphemy law protecting Islam,"** Jenrick said. **"Why do Labour MPs think it is acceptable to mock Christianity but not Islam? Time and again this Labour Government displays an Orwellian disregard for freedom of speech."**  

 

The 2018 definition, developed over 18 months, describes Islamophobia as **"rooted in racism and a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness."** In his foreword to the report, Grieve welcomed the findings, stating that it **"makes an important contribution to the debate as to how Islamophobia can best be addressed. It is well researched and can give all of us food both for thought and positive action."**  

 

Despite his past endorsement, Grieve has acknowledged the difficulty of defining Islamophobia in a way that balances protecting Muslim communities from discrimination while preserving freedom of expression. **"It was apparent at the time that defining Islamophobia is extremely difficult for perfectly valid reasons relating to freedom of expression,"** he told *The Telegraph*. However, he also recognized that **"perfectly law-abiding Muslims going about their business and well integrated into society are suffering discrimination and abuse."**  

 

Rayner’s plans also include the creation of a council on anti-Semitism, though some within the Jewish community have questioned whether another advisory body is necessary.  

 

The proposed Islamophobia council comes alongside Home Office efforts to expand the recording of non-crime hate incidents related to both Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. This move has raised further alarm among free speech advocates, with Policy Exchange researcher Paul Stott warning that the government appears to be leaning toward restrictive measures. **"The Government is giving off worrying vibes – that it is potentially amenable to restrictions on ‘blasphemy’ and that its mind is made up in favour of a definition of Islamophobia. If so, that is terrible news for freedom of speech,"** he said.  

 

A spokesperson for the MHCLG defended the initiative, stating: **"All forms of religious and racial hatred have absolutely no place in our society. The Government engages regularly with faith communities to help foster strong working relationships, and we are actively exploring a more integrated and cohesive approach to tackling racial and religious hatred, including Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. Further details of this work will be set out shortly."**  

 

As debate over the council intensifies, the government faces a difficult challenge in balancing the fight against discrimination with the preservation of free speech—a conflict that is unlikely to be resolved without controversy.

 

Based on a report by The Times 2025-02-05

 

 

[jippytum]

Another step to appease the Muslim community in the UK. They aready have their own courts and follow the Sharia laws of their home country. 

[baansgr]

And Muslims are the ones rapping and killing their way through White British children, yet another innocent 15 year old stabbed to death at school by one of these savages...but diversity is our strength, I can buy a roti at 2 in the morning