United Kingdom: the definition of Islamophobia defended by the Labor Party under fire

The new definition of Islamophobia that Labor, a British political party anchored to the center left, wishes to formalize, continues to give rise to strong reservations. Among the critical voices is Baroness Kishwer Falkner, former chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), the body responsible for ensuring respect for equality and fundamental rights. She warns of the possible excesses of a definition according to which “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and constitutes a form of racism which targets expressions of “Muslimness” or “perceived Muslimness””. A formulation that its opponents consider too broad, to the point of risking equating certain criticisms of religious practices with racism.

Guest on Sky News, Baroness Falkner estimated that this approach risked “chilling speech”, particularly for women who denounce forms of oppression in certain Muslim circles. “I am a Muslim woman myself, I know the community well,” she stressed.

If the Starmer government claims to want to respond to the increase in anti-Muslim acts, the EHRC fears a shift towards a form of implicit blasphemy offense. The Department for Communities, however, assures that the future definition “will never contradict equality legislation” and that it only aims “to protect people, not religions”.