Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Communities Secretary, stated in the House of Commons on Monday the 2nd of September that the Labour government is considering a ban on Islamophobia: “A new definition must be given careful consideration so that it comprehensively reflects multiple perspectives and considers potential implications for different communities. And we’re actively considering our approach to Islamophobia, including definitions, and we’ll provide further updates on this in due course.”

The all-party parliamentary group defined Islamophobia as “rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness”.

Afzal Khan, a Labour MP for Manchester Rusholme, has encouraged Prime Minister Keir Starmer “to host meetings with Muslim community leaders and to formally adopt a definition of anti-Muslim prejudice put forward by the all-party parliamentary group”. He said in the House of Commons that recent riots across the UK had caused “fear and distress” in his constituency and among members of the Muslim community. 

Tim Dieppe, the Head of Public Policy at Christian Concern, published an essay before the general election. He voiced his concerns about making Islamophobia a hate-crime and how it would affect free speech. He explained that anyone disputing Hamas’s description of Israel’s military operation in Gaza as a ‘genocide’ is guilty of ‘Islamophobia and racism’. Mr Dieppe stated: “It is not ‘racist’ to dispute that claim, any more than it is ‘racist’ to criticise the religion of Islam or to acknowledge that the history of Islam involves spreading the religion by the sword and subjugating non-Muslims. We should continue to be vigilant against anti-Muslim hatred, but consign the word ‘Islamophobia’ to the dustbin of history. People in a free society must be able to criticise each other’s beliefs and practices. This necessarily includes religious beliefs and practices. The beliefs and practices of all religions and worldviews should be open to public scrutiny and people should be free to question, criticise, ridicule, or joke about them. But the widespread acceptance of too broad a definition of ‘Islamophobia’ risks silencing or censoring criticism of Islam. It is therefore a threat to free speech.”

The Church of England’s authorized teachin in Article 18 of its 39 Articles of Religion states that people can be saved “only by the Name of Jesus Christ”. An Anglican minister, who has recently articulated that no one could be saved by following Islam, could also be prosecuted if the government passes the law. 

Source: https://www.christiantoday.com/