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Our articles provide in-depth analysis and commentary on legislation and policy developments that impact Muslim communities in the UK. We produce briefings, legal responses, and research-led insights to inform public debate, support advocacy efforts, and equip allies with accurate, accessible information.

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· August 11, 2025 ·

1 min read

#Equality#Inclusion#Human Rights#Justice & Accountability

M-Legal Presents Evidence on Defining Islamophobia to Government Working Group

Last month, M-Legal submitted evidence to the UK Government’s Working Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia Definition — an independent panel tasked with recommending a national, non-statutory definition that can be used consistently across public policy and institutions.

 

Our submission was informed by three roundtable meetings with Muslim community organisations, legal practitioners, and civil society leaders, exploring how Islamophobia is experienced in education, policing, media, housing, and public life. These conversations ensured the proposed definition reflects lived realities and commands broad community confidence.

 

We also met members of the Working Group in person to present our legal analysis, community evidence, and recommendations.

 

A Comprehensive Definition

 

Drawing on the expertise of our Chair and informed by UN, EU, and OSCE best practice, our submission argues that Islamophobia must be recognised as religious bigotry, racial bigotry, or a complex combination of both — racialised religious bigotry.

 

It manifests across three interconnected domains:

 

  1. Othering – dehumanising narratives, stereotyping, and exclusion from public life.
  2. Discrimination – structural and institutional barriers in services, education, housing, and employment.
  3. Hostility – hate speech, incitement, and violence.

 

While it can occur in purely religious or purely racial forms, it is most often an overlap of the two — a point that should be explicit in any agreed definition.

Addressing Gaps in Law and Policy

 

We identified persistent disparities in protection:

 

  • Civil law: The Equality Act 2010 excludes harassment protections for religion in key areas like service provision and education, leaving Muslims less protected than Jews or Sikhs.
  • Criminal law: The Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 sets a higher bar for prosecuting religious hatred than racial hatred, making convictions for Islamophobic incitement rare.
  • Policy: Unlike antisemitism, there is no government-adopted definition of Islamophobia, meaning certain forms of prejudice and exclusion remain unchallenged.

These gaps are not technicalities — they have real-world implications for equal treatment and trust in public institutions.

 

Our Recommendations

 

We have set out to the Working Group that:

 

  • The definition should recognise both religious and racialised dimensions, covering the domains of othering, discrimination, and hostility.
  • It must be acceptable to the majority of the Muslim community to have credibility and practical value.
  • Protections should be harmonised so Muslims benefit from the same safeguards as other racialised religious groups.
  • Public sector leadership, education, and targeted awareness work should be used to challenge “othering”.
  • The definition should be embedded in the operational frameworks of public bodies, law enforcement, and education providers.

 

Moving Forward

 

Defining Islamophobia will not, by itself, end anti-Muslim prejudice. However, it is a necessary foundation for addressing gaps in protection, ensuring consistent application of equalities law, and strengthening social cohesion.

 

M-Legal will continue to work with partners, policymakers, and the Working Group to ensure the definition adopted is both workable and grounded in the realities of those it seeks to protect.

 

For the full submission or to learn more about our roundtable process, contact: enquiries@m-legal.org.

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