Government Introduces Anti-Muslim Hate Definition to Tackle Record Abuse
Communities Secretary Steve Reed has announced a new non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim hate, designed to protect individuals from "unacceptable prejudice, discrimination and hatred" while upholding the fundamental right to freedom of speech. The definition forms a key part of a wider government strategy on social cohesion, unveiled in Parliament on Monday.
Addressing Rising Hate Crimes
Mr Reed emphasised the government's duty to act against record levels of hate crime targeting Muslims, stating that "you can't tackle a problem if you can't describe it." According to the latest official figures, religious hate crimes in England and Wales reached a record high in the year ending March 2025. Excluding the Metropolitan Police due to recording changes, offences against Muslims increased by nearly a fifth, from 2,690 to 3,199 incidents.
In that period, hate crimes against Jewish people occurred at a rate of 106 per 10,000 population, the highest for any religious group. Muslims experienced the second highest rate, with 12 offences per 10,000 population. Mr Reed highlighted parallel efforts to protect Jewish communities, including record funding for synagogue and school security, and new laws to prevent abusive protests outside places of worship.
Balancing Protection and Free Speech
The new definition explicitly safeguards freedom of speech regarding religion, ensuring that public interest concerns remain protected. Mr Reed told the Commons: "The definition safeguards our fundamental right to freedom of speech about religion in general or any religion in particular." This aims to address criticisms that such definitions could create backdoor blasphemy laws or restrict discussions on Islamic extremism.
Shadow communities minister Paul Holmes raised concerns, arguing the definition "risks undermining free speech within the law, hindering legitimate criticism of Islamism, and creating a backdoor blasphemy law." Mr Reed firmly rejected these claims, asserting: "There is absolutely no question of blasphemy laws by the back door."
Broader Social Cohesion Strategy
The anti-Muslim hate definition is embedded within a comprehensive social cohesion plan described by the government as "a rallying call for action" to build a more connected and resilient United Kingdom. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer cautioned against politicians exploiting divisions, particularly referencing the Iran conflict's potential to split communities.
Key initiatives include a confidential whistleblowing route for university staff to raise concerns and a "campus cohesion charter" to enhance protection for students and staff. These measures aim to help universities fulfil their Prevent duty obligations to counter radicalisation. Mr Reed noted the whistleblowing system is intended to maintain universities as "open spaces for free thinking and free debate."
Additional Measures to Counter Extremism
The strategy also empowers the Charity Commission to shut down charities and remove trustees swiftly to address extremist abuse within the sector. An annual report on extremism will be introduced to outline the nature and scale of threats facing the UK. Furthermore, the government plans to bolster the visa watchlist taskforce to block hate preachers and extremists from entering the country.
Mr Reed concluded by stressing the government's commitment to action: "We will not do what they did and stand by and simply watch while Muslim communities face targeted abuse in ways that any decent country would consider to be absolutely intolerable."
