Rebranding Labour’s Islamophobia definition to ‘anti-Muslim hostility’ would lead to ‘non-crime hate incidents’ 2.0, according to a new Policy Exchange report. Currently the government’s draft definition is:
“Anti-Muslim hostility is engaging in or encouraging criminal acts… harassment and intimidation whether physical, verbal, written or electronically communicated, which is directed at Muslims or those perceived to be Muslims because of their religion, ethnicity or appearance.”
Now the former chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Baroness Falkner – who left the role just last month – has said:
“This is dangerous and divisive…even worse than anticipated…it will become a free speech and thought control problem is immediately evident.”
Policy Exchange lays out that despite police scrapping “non-crime hate incidents” – though as Guido revealed, the Met are still recording them – the new definition risks bringing them back, this time for “non-crimes” against Muslims. Read the report in full below:
Reacting to the news of Jenrick’s sacking at a press conference in Fife, Nigel Farage said:
“I’ll give him a ring this afternoon. Might even buy him a pint.”