ndependent expert to help Government with Islamophobia definition after objections by faith leaders and academics
from Christian Today:
The Government has appointed an independent expert to lead the process towards a formal definition of Islamophobia after faith leaders, academics and politicians warned that free speech could be at risk.
Imam Qari Asim, Deputy Chair of the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group, will spearhead the work on establishing a definition of Islamophobia after the Government rejected the one drawn up by a cross-party group of MPs last May.
The rejected APPG definition reads: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.”
This definition has been formally adopted by the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Scottish Conservatives, Plaid Cymru and the Mayor of London.
A letter of opposition to Home Secretary Sajid Javid was signed by a wide range of academics, faith leaders, journalists, politicians and campaigners, including Professor Richard Dawkins, Lord Alton, Lord Singh, Baroness Cox, Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, the President of Hindu Forum of Britain Trupti Patel, Christian Concern’s Head of Policy Tim Dieppe, and National Secular Society CEO Stephen Evans.
They said that the APPG definition was “vague and expansive”, and could have negative consequences for freedom of expression, and academic and journalistic freedom.
They also argued that harmful practices and extremism were more likely to go unreported “as a result of fear of being called Islamophobic”.
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