The UK government has released further details regarding a working group tasked with advising the government on a possible definition of Islamophobia, while also safeguarding the right to "insult" religious beliefs and practices. The establishment of this working group comes as the government attempts to strike a balance between addressing anti-Muslim discrimination and protecting freedom of speech. The government hopes that the working group will develop a definition that both protects the Muslim community and guarantees citizens' rights to criticize religious beliefs.
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03-25, 2025The composition of the working group indicates that the government is engaging with the recently established British Muslim Network (BMN), but not with the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), which claims to be the largest umbrella body representing British Muslims. Former Conservative Attorney General Dominic Grieve has been appointed as the chair of the group, with Akil Ahmed, co-chair of the BMN, among the other four members. This personnel composition has sparked discussions about the government's selective engagement with representatives of the Muslim community, as well as ongoing concerns about the government's relationship with the MCB.
Earlier this year, news surfaced regarding the government's plans to form a working group to develop an official definition of anti-Muslim discrimination. This suggested that the government was withdrawing from its plan to adopt the 2018 definition proposed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims. The Conservative government rejected that definition, with some critics arguing that it could stifle criticism of Islam, an assertion strongly denied by the APPG. Previously, the Labour Party had adopted the definition, defining Islamophobia as "a form of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness."
The new working group's terms of reference, published on Monday, include advising on "the merits of adopting a non-statutory definition of unacceptable treatment of Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim by the government, including what the proposed definition should be." This indicates that the government has not yet decided whether to adopt any definition of Islamophobia. The terms of reference make it clear that any proposed definition "must be compatible with the United Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to freedom of speech and expression – this includes the right to offend, shock or disturb, and to criticise, express dislike of or insult religions and/or their adherents’ beliefs and practices."
Ahmed's inclusion in the working group follows the official launch of the BMN in February this year, which was supported by Faith Minister Khan. Previously, Middle East Eye reported that the BMN had lost most of its Muslim support and was backed by a charity established by the disgraced former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. Commentators have argued that the BMN's co-chairs and advisory board lack credibility and have warned that the government may use the network to continue avoiding engagement with the Muslim Council of Britain. However, the BMN leadership has argued that the government should engage with the "entire range" of Muslim groups, including both the MCB and the BMN. Successive governments have pursued a policy of refusing to engage with the MCB, despite the organization having over 500 member organizations, including mosques, schools, local and county councils, professional networks, and advocacy groups.
Other members of the working group include Professor Javaid Khan, Managing Director of Equi, a new think tank that claims it was "born out of the British Muslim community." Grieve previously served as chair of the Citizens UK Islam Commission, aimed at promoting dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims, and wrote the foreword to the controversial 2018 APPG report on Islamophobia, calling it "food for thought and positive action." Crossbench peer Baroness Shaista Gohir, CEO of the Muslim Women’s Network UK (MWNUK), is also a member of the working group. Aysha Afzal, an independent consultant, has also been appointed as a member. The terms of reference stipulate that the group will have six months to submit a working definition of Islamophobia to ministers. It makes it clear that the government "reserves the right to disband the Group at any point without notice" if it believes that the group is no longer meeting its aims and objectives.
