By Dawood Ashaari
Communities Secretary, Steve Reed, unveiled the government’s long-awaited definition of Islamophobia on March 9 , but in a move that has sparked immediate controversy, the term “Islamophobia” has been replaced with “anti-Muslim hostility. The change comes after sustained pressure from right-wing think tanks, ministers, and sections of the media.
Almost a decade after the government adopted the IHRA working definition of antisemitism in December 2016, the new definition reads:
Anti-Muslim hostility is intentionally engaging in, assisting or encouraging criminal acts – including acts of violence, vandalism, harassment, or intimidation, whether physical, verbal, written or electronically communicated – that are directed at Muslims because of their religion or at those who are perceived to be Muslim, including where that perception is based on assumptions about ethnicity, race or appearance.
It is also the prejudicial stereotyping of Muslims, or people perceived to be Muslim including because of their ethnic or racial backgrounds or their appearance, and treating them as a collective group defined by fixed and negative characteristics, with the intention of encouraging hatred against them, irrespective of their actual opinions, beliefs or actions as individuals.
It is engaging in unlawful discrimination where the relevant conduct – including the creation or use of practices and biases within institutions – is intended to disadvantage Muslims in public and economic life.
The definition is accompanied by an X-page explanatory document with examples and notes and has been published alongside a wider 47-page guidance document.
Fraught History
The Muslim News previously reported in December of fresh delays to this definition being announced, following the recommendations of the Independent Working Group being submitted to the Government last October.
The announcement follows a Labour Government U-turn on the 2018 APPG British Muslims definition of Islamophobia, which had been endorsed while in opposition but dropped after Labour’s July 2024 General Election victory. That earlier definition was backed by more than 850 Muslim organisations, over 100 academics, upwards of 60 local authorities, and every major political party, including the Scottish Conservatives, with the notable exception of the then-governing Conservative Party.
In early 2025, the Government convened a working group chaired by Dominic Grieve KC, including four Muslim members. However, having received and reviewed their recommendations since last October, the Government appears to have watered down the Working Group’s wording which was leaked to the BBC last December by removing the term “racialisation.”
Lack of community buy-in
The government’s decision to replace the term “Islamophobia” with “anti-Muslim hostility” has sparked a wave of concern. Community leaders and legal experts have warned that the shift risks watering down recognition of the prejudice, seemingly to appease far-right activists, think tanks, politicians, and sections of the media. Echoing these concerns, in December 2025, Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) released a statement, saying: “Community buy‑in will depend upon the government’s acknowledgment – enshrined in the definition – that Islamophobia is a tangible and pervasive form of prejudice that permeates our institutions and systems, from education, employment, public places and online spaces.”
Social Cohesion Strategy
Today’s announcement has been tied to a new Government Social Cohesion Strategy which aims to “bring communities together and tackle extremism”.
The Social Cohesion Strategy recommends the Government appoints a Special Representative on “anti-Muslim hostility”, whose role will be to “champion efforts across the UK to tackle hostility and hatred directed at Muslims.” The representative “will engage with communities and stakeholders, and support cross-sector action to strengthen understanding, reporting and response.”
The role appears to be modelled on the Government’s Independent Antisemitism Advisor – who since 2019 is Lord John Mann – who is supported by an annual grant from Government of £100,000 to the Antisemitism Policy Trust to provide secretariat support.
However, unlike Lord Mann, the proposed representative is not described as independent, and no Terms of Reference have yet been published. The Muslim News understands that Labour parliamentarians are under consideration for the post.
A detailed analysis of the new definition and its implications will appear in the next issue of The Muslim News.
[Photo: Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Steve Reed, speaking at Lancaster House. Picture by Ben Dance / FCDO]
