One of the leading British Sikh organisations in the UK has appealed to the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, over the Labour Party government adopting any “flawed” definition of Islamophobia. The Network of Sikh Organisations (NSO) fears an attack on free speech which could adversely impact even a very factual discussion of the history of the Indian subcontinent and persecution of religious minorities around the world.
The NSO recently wrote to Rayner, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, after she addressed the House of Commons on the issue last week. She had indicated that the government was “actively considering” its approach to a definition of Islamophobia. In 2018, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims had defined Islamophobia as a “type of racism” that targets expressions of Muslimness.
The NSO letter to Rayner states: “Adoption of this contested definition into law would have serious implications on free speech, not least the ability to discuss historical truths.
“The targeting of mosques and asylum seeker hotels by hooligans and opportunistic thugs is reprehensible and should be universally condemned, as is the targeting of white people by Muslim counter protestors whom they perceived to be ‘far right’. But targeting criminality with a flawed definition of ‘Islamophobia’, would be counterproductive and there is no evidence it would reduce anti-Muslim hatred in any case.”
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The group, led by Lord Indarjit Singh CBE, warned that “seminal moments” in Sikh history will be “censored” and considered “racist” if the APPG definition was to become law.
“If the government chooses to incorporate this definition into law, then discussing the history of the Indian subcontinent, and the persecution of religious minorities across the world today, in countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria will be absurdly equated to ‘racism’. This would be counterproductive, cause disquiet and perversely persecute truth tellers,” the NSO added.
The appeal followed a question addressed to Rayner in Parliament about the steps being taken by the government to tackle Islamophobia in the wake of far-right riots across UK cities last month.
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Rayner said: “Much of last month’s violent disorder was Islamophobic, and the targeting of Muslims shows that we need to go further and faster in tackling this vile hatred, which was fuelled by fake news.
“A new definition must be given careful consideration so that it comprehensively reflects multiple perspectives and considers the potential implications for different communities. We are actively considering our approach to Islamophobia, including definitions, and we will provide further updates in due course.”
