Earlier this year, MLegal proudly funded the Runnymede Trust’s report Islamophobia: Towards a Working Definition.

 

In the report, the Runnymede Trust explains:

 

“Over the past two decades, our understanding of Islamophobia has evolved significantly. Islamophobia is more than just an irrational fear or hostility towards Islam, as it was initially described in early definitions of the term. It is now widely recognised as a form of racism towards Muslims that is deeply embedded in societal structures and systems of power.

 

Reflecting on the current context, it is clear that Islamophobia extends beyond overt acts of discrimination or hate crimes. It is institutional, systemic, and often instrumentalised through policy and legislation.”

 

Building on these insights, we see that Islamophobia can sometimes appear as purely religious or purely racial bigotry. However, in most cases- shaped by colonial legacies and reinforced by media narratives, counter-terrorism frameworks, and institutional practices- it is experienced as a complex intersection of both.

 

For instance, people with Muslim-sounding names are less likely to be offered job interviews, and Sikhs are often attacked in the streets as “Muslims” despite not being of the Islamic faith. In other words, individuals are targeted based on their perceived or visible Muslimness, not necessarily their belief in or practice of Islam.

 

This intersectional form of discrimination causes significant harm – through profiling, barriers to education and employment, restricted access to services, and exclusion from full civic participation. Recognising Islamophobia as a form of racism also ensures legal and policy coherence and consistency with other forms of racialised religious bigotry.

 

This important publication provides a timely and robust framework for understanding Islamophobia and shaping more effective responses across government, civil society, and public institutions.

 

Read the full Runnymede Trust briefing here.