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Bombshell Claim: UK Islamophobia Chair Says We Don’t Need a Definition!

File photo dated 06/06/18 of Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, who has said Boris Johnson has "a lot of explaining to do" when he faces MPs on Wednesday, adding that the former prime minister has a "serial reputation for telling untruths whenever it

2PG1TFF File photo dated 06/06/18 of Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, who has said Boris Johnson has "a lot of explaining to do" when he faces MPs on Wednesday, adding that the former prime minister has a "serial reputation for telling untruths whenever it suits him".

Dominic Grieve casts doubt on need for an Islamophobia definition

The chair of the government’s Anti-Muslim Hatred and Islamophobia Working Group signalled on Thursday that the group may conclude there is no necessity for an official definition of Islamophobia. In a closed-door session with MPs, peers and key stakeholders at Parliament’s Westminster Hall, former attorney general Dominic Grieve KC revealed that his team is considering whether a formal definition would add value or merely complicate matters.

Grieve’s review of existing definitions

Grieve, appointed by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to lead the working group, acknowledged that numerous definitions of Islamophobia already exist across public bodies and institutions. He suggested that a proliferation of competing definitions has created confusion, rather than clarity, in efforts to combat anti-Muslim hatred.

Assurances on free speech

During the meeting, Grieve emphasised that any definition adopted would not encroach on free speech. “Protecting Muslims from hatred and discrimination need not limit legitimate debate,” he told attendees. He reiterated that civil and criminal law would remain unchanged, and that robust scrutiny of ideas—even unpopular ones—would continue to be safeguarded.

Stakeholder perspectives

The working group heard a range of views from high-profile figures:

Public evidence call and timeline

The working group has launched a four-week public consultation on its website, seeking evidence and opinions to inform its final decision. Key points include:

Government’s discretion and next steps

Although the working group advises ministers, the government retains the right to reject any definition it deems inappropriate. The final report will be submitted to Deputy Prime Minister Rayner, who oversees communities and local government.

Analysts caution that without ministerial buy-in, a definition alone may lack legal force or enforcement mechanisms. Conversely, a well-crafted definition could streamline hate crime reporting and training for public officials.

Implications for communities and institutions

Muslim advocacy groups have welcomed the scrutiny, arguing that a clear benchmark could empower victims to report anti-Muslim incidents with confidence. Critics, however, fear that a rigid definition could deter legitimate academic research or journalistic investigation into Islamist ideologies.

Balancing clarity with flexibility

The working group’s challenge is to strike the right balance: provide a practical, unequivocal tool for preventing harm, while avoiding overly prescriptive language that could chill debate. Grieve’s openness to the possibility that “we may not need one” reflects a pragmatic approach to policy-making in this delicate area.

As submissions flood in over the coming days, Parliament and wider society will be watching closely to see whether the group opts for a concise set of guiding principles or decides that existing frameworks, coupled with stronger enforcement, suffice to tackle the rise in anti-Muslim hatred.

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