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Angela Rayner’s Islamophobia Definition Could Extend to Non-Muslims


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Posted

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Under a new definition proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, individuals from various faith groups—including Sikhs, Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and even atheists—could be recognized as victims of Islamophobia if they are perceived as Muslim. Rayner’s initiative aims to broaden the scope of protections against anti-Muslim hatred by ensuring that those mistakenly identified as Muslim are also covered.  

 

As part of this effort, Rayner has established a working group to provide recommendations on defining and addressing Islamophobia. The five-member advisory panel, chaired by former Conservative Attorney General Dominic Grieve, will guide ministers on the appropriate language to describe and combat discrimination targeting Muslims or those assumed to be Muslim. The group's terms of reference, published on Monday,

emphasize that their work will also consider the merits of adopting a formal, non-statutory definition of Islamophobia.  

 

The document states: “This should include advice regarding the merits of government adopting a non-statutory definition of unacceptable treatment of Muslims and anyone perceived to be Muslim, including what a proposed definition should be.”  

 

 

Rayner’s proposal follows previous controversies surrounding attempts to define Islamophobia. Critics have argued that past definitions were overly broad, risking constraints on free speech, effectively creating a de facto blasphemy law that could suppress legitimate criticism of Islam. However, Rayner maintains that the new definition will balance protections against discrimination while upholding the right to free speech.  

 

She underscored the necessity of such measures, noting that “too many British Muslims have faced discrimination and hatred due to their religion.” The terms of reference further recognize that individuals from other religious or non-religious backgrounds often face hostility due to mistaken identity. “There are often cultural markers which are adopted by wider faith communities like Sikh, Hindu, Jain, and Buddhists which are used to attack communities that are mistakenly identified as Muslim. This is also true of people of no faith,” the document states.  

 

Anticipating concerns over free expression, the terms explicitly reaffirm the right of British citizens to critique religious beliefs and practices. “Any proposed definition must be compatible with the unchanging right of British citizens to exercise freedom of speech and expression – which includes the right to criticise, express dislike of, or insult religions and/or the beliefs and practices of adherents,” the document clarifies.  

 

The working group will operate behind closed doors, with its advice remaining confidential. According to the terms of reference, the group will meet monthly, providing private updates to ministers without making its deliberations public. Alongside Grieve, the panel includes Professor Javed Khan, managing director of the think tank EQUI and former head of Barnardo’s; Baroness Shaista Gohir, chief executive of the Muslim Women’s Network UK; Akeela Ahmed, co-chair of the British Muslim Network; and Asha Affi, an independent consultant.  

 

Grieve has previously engaged in discussions on Islamophobia, having written the foreword to a 2018 report by an all-party parliamentary group, co-chaired by Wes Streeting. The report, adopted by the Labour Party, defined Islamophobia as “rooted in racism” and described it as “a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” At the time, Grieve praised the report for its thorough research and contribution to the debate on tackling Islamophobia.  

 

Grieve’s political history also includes a notable clash with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who stripped him of the Tory whip in 2019 after he rebelled against Brexit legislation. He later ran as an independent candidate in the general election that year.  

 

With Rayner’s working group now moving forward, the debate over the definition of Islamophobia—and its implications for free speech—continues to be a contentious issue in British politics.

 

Based on a report by The Telegraph  2025-03-26

Labour’s Islamophobia Policy

 

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Posted

What if she thinks someone walks like an Egyptian?   :smile:

 

I worked with a Sikh guy at the time of 9/11.  I told him to be cautious, that Yanks don't know what a Sikh is, they'll think you're a Muslim.  He kind of brushed me off.  A few days later he told me of reports coming in about Sikhs getting beat up, mistakenly assumed to be members of the faithful. 

 

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Posted
4 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

 

I could see that coming, lol

 

 

I could see that coming, lol

 

well obviously because its not part of this topic 

Posted

The ‘Islamophobia’ working group is unbalanced and opaque

It remains to be seen if Rayner’s new group will place a robust emphasis on free speech, not least the ability to freely criticise religion, but also openly discuss subjects such as grooming gangs. Of course, defining ‘anti-Muslim’ hatred makes more sense than the vague catch-all term (and unsolicited mental health diagnosis) ‘Islamophobia’. But for now the government are opting to interchangeably use both terms, and this, we are told, will be a non-statutory definition.

https://archive.ph/L9IYH

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-islamophobia-working-group-is-unbalanced-and-opaque/

Posted

It doesn’t take a lot of thought to work out why this is correct.

 

Bigots are usually dullards, plenty of examples demonstrate that to be so.

 

If a bigot who hates Muslims violently attacks a Jew in the mistaken belief they are a Muslim then the motivation for the attack is Islamophobia.

 

Bigots aren’t the brightest of folk, they are almost always blinded to reality by their own hatred.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted
3 hours ago, proton said:

 

The insanity of the left, how on earth can a Buddhist be perceived as a muslim? Islamophobia is just a made up word by muslims to stop any critics, or even discussion of the faith, and the disgraceful life of it's founder. It will probably be illegal to state the prophet married 6 year old Aisha and then raped her when she was 9 and other uncomfortable facts stated in their own scriptures-

I don't know, but but but - Brits have mistaken me for a Muslim too many times.  I want the UK government to compensate me for my mental stress and angst.  A few million quid should cover my mental anguish.   Allah Akbar, errrr, Namo Tassa...

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Posted
7 minutes ago, proton said:

 

It's not muslims who people are against, it's Islam, it's disgusting founder, and the results in the world of his hateful preaching. Pulling out the old bigot line to demonise critics of this evil ideology convinces nobody.

I’m interested in what basis you speak for all the world’s Islamophobes?

 

 

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Posted
12 minutes ago, proton said:

 

It's not muslims who people are against, it's Islam, it's disgusting founder, and the results in the world of his hateful preaching. Pulling out the old bigot line to demonise critics of this evil ideology convinces nobody.

"it's disgusting founder, and the results in the world of his hateful preaching."

Speaking of an Islamaphobe. 👆 :glare:

The difference between Brit Elites and myself is that Brit Elites want to shut the commoner's mouths forcefully using any means that they can concoct. Myself as an American and a 1st Amendment Absolutist support your right to verbally spew your hate of anyone you'd like, at least in the US where it is constitutionally protected speech. 

So you hate Islam?  Ok.  Do I agree with you. No.  But do I support your right to say what you said. Yep.
But if you say this in the UK, they'll want to throw you in prison.  To me that's just overkill.
 

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