Police chiefs have sparked controversy by warning that a proposed definition of Islamophobia could undermine counter-terrorism efforts and free speech. The definition, drafted by the all-party parliamentary group on British Muslims, states: 'Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.' Labour and the Liberal Democrats have adopted it, while the Conservatives face pressure to follow suit amid accusations of failing to tackle Islamophobia within their ranks.
The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), representing police leaders in England and Wales, issued a statement voicing concerns. NPCC chair Martin Hewitt said: 'We take all reports of hate crime very seriously... However, we have some concerns... the definition is too broad as currently drafted, could cause confusion for officers enforcing it and could be used to challenge legitimate free speech on the historical or theological actions of Islamic states. There is also a risk it could undermine counter-terrorism powers.'
Muslim groups have strongly contested the police position. Harun Khan, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, accused Hewitt of a 'woeful misunderstanding' of the definition. He argued that counter-terror operations would only be hampered if officers were targeting Muslims based on identity, which would confirm long-held concerns about disproportionate focus on Muslim communities. Khan urged Hewitt to reflect on the wisdom of such a public intervention given existing discrimination concerns.
The definition emerged from a report that highlighted higher levels of hate crime against Muslims. Official figures show Muslim adults face a 1.7% risk of being victims of race hate crime, compared to 0.2% for Christian adults. The report included a case study where a Muslim traveller was stopped at Heathrow Airport due to attire, with the respondent unable to report it as police did not see it as Islamophobic.
