from Christian Concern
Our head of Public Policy, Tim Dieppe, discusses the concerning new government group set up to provide a definition of Islamophobia.
The government announced at the end of February, coinciding with the start of Ramadan, that it was setting up a new Working Group tasked with providing the government with a definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia. I wrote at the time that ‘Anti-Muslim’ is clear and sufficient, and so no new definition is needed.
The fact that the government has even set up a Group to provide a special definition of Anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia is in itself discriminatory against all other religions or worldviews. This will give Muslims, and most likely Islam too, special treatment by the government, justifying two-tier policing and two-tier justice by authorities.
Membership of the Group
This week the government has released the membership of the new Group. As already announced, Dominic Grieve KC, former Conservative attorney general, will chair the working group.
He wrote the foreword to the original APPG report proposing the notorious APPG definition of Islamophobia, which has been widely criticised for restricting freedom of speech in relation to Islam. His appointment as chair is not encouraging for those concerned about free speech.
There are only four other members of the Group, far fewer than the 16 members anticipated in the press. Notably, Qari Asim, who was touted as a member of the Group, is not actually a member of the Group. This is a minor victory as we criticised his shortlisting, citing his previous track record of opposition to free speech.
The four members are Professor Javed Khan, Baroness Shaista Gohir, Akeela Ahmed, and Asha Affi. Javed Khan is former CEO of Barnado’s children’s charity.
Shaista Gohir is CEO of Muslim Women’s Network UK. Akeela Ahmed is Co-Chair of the new British Muslim Network along with the notorious Qari Asim. Asha Affi is described as an independent consultant.
In short, there is plenty of charity and campaigning expertise, but little in the way of legal expertise, except for Dominic Grieve KC. All the members are Muslims, so there is no voice for other faith groups in this important Group.