"Failing to adopt a definition of anti-Muslim hostility would signal to British Muslims that their safety does not matter, a charity's head has warned, as critics argue that adopting a definition risks breaking the law. Shaista Gohir, a cross-bench peer and head of the Muslim Women's Network, was part of a working group on anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia launched by the government in 2025 to define what would constitute unacceptable treatment, prejudice and discrimination against Muslims."
"It is understood that a proposal submitted to the government for consideration in October put forward a definition for anti-Muslim hostility, as opposed to anti-Muslim hatred or Islamophobia. The non-statutory definition was intended to protect people in line with existing law and legislation, said Lady Gohir, who criticised Downing Street for its handling of the issue after government figures showed hate crimes against Muslims rose by nearly a fifth in 2025."
"Gohir's intervention comes as research reveals most British Muslims feel negative about their future in the UK. Muslim Census's The Crisis of Belonging report found only 8.2% felt positive about their future in the UK, while 62.7% said they felt negative. Just over half 51.9% said they felt they strongly belong to the UK, plunging from the 93% reported in an Ipsos Mori 10 years ago."
A government working group in 2025 proposed a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim hostility to clarify unacceptable treatment, prejudice and discrimination and to align protections with existing law. Shaista Gohir, head of the Muslim Women's Network and a member of the group, criticised Downing Street for its handling and warned that rejecting a definition would signal that British Muslims' safety is not a priority amid rising hate crimes. Muslim Census research found only 8.2% of British Muslims feel positive about their future while 62.7% feel negative; falling feelings of belonging and concerns about Islamophobia, the political climate and job security were highlighted in a 4,800-person survey conducted with Islamic Relief UK and the National Zakat Foundation.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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