The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) today welcomes the government’s announcement of a new working group to develop a definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, a long-awaited step towards addressing the alarming rise in hate crimes against Muslim communities across the United Kingdom.
The MCB is particularly encouraged by the appointment of Dominic Grieve KC as chair of the working group. Mr Grieve has consistently demonstrated a principled approach to engaging with Muslim communities and has been a respected voice in discussions about tackling Islamophobia. His previous involvement with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims and his contributions to dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslim communities position him well to lead this important initiative.
The MCB notes that a comprehensive definition of Islamophobia has already been developed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims, which has been widely accepted by numerous political parties and organisations. The primary opposition to this definition has come from those advancing strawman arguments and mischaracterisations, often from groups with a documented history of hostility towards British Muslims.
Dr Naomi Green, Assistant Secretary General of the MCB, stated:
“We welcome the government’s commitment to addressing the scourge of Islamophobia through this working group. While we are open to any improvements to existing definitions, we hope that the working group will remain vigilant against attempts to water down what has already been developed and widely accepted. The ultimate test of any definition will be whether it effectively protects British Muslims from the direct hatred and discrimination they may individually face in their daily lives and the more structural racism that has been identified within the justice system, media, politics and the workforce.”
“Record levels of anti-Muslim hate crimes demand meaningful action, not just words. We hope this process will lead to concrete measures that make our communities safer and ensure Muslims can practice their faith without fear of prejudice or violence.”
The MCB hopes that the working group will engage substantively with Muslim communities and organisations across the UK to ensure that the lived experiences of British Muslims are fully reflected in the definition. We stand ready to work constructively with the government and the working group to develop an effective framework for tackling Islamophobia in all its forms.
Notes to Editors:
1. The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK’s largest and most diverse national Muslim umbrella organisation with over 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools.
2. See MCB report on Islamophobia
3. For further information please contact:
The Muslim Council of Britain
PO Box 57330
London
E1 2WJ
Tel: 0845 26 26 786
Fax: 0207 247 7079
media@mcb.org.uk