Starmer advised plan to ban ‘anti-Muslim hostility’ makes divisions worse | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Labour’s plan to outlaw “anti-Muslim hostility” is “dangerous” and can grow to be a “thought control problem”, the previous head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission has warned. Baroness Falkner, who left the equality physique in December after 5 years in cost, stated: “If there is one policy that cries out for another government U-turn, it is this.”

The Government has arrange a working group chaired by former Conservative Attorney General Dominic Grieve to attract up an official description of anti-Muslim hatred. Initial plans to outline Islamophobia have been deserted over fears it will stop reputable criticism of faith, in accordance with stories.

However, even the present proposals would “empower” extremism and “increase, not reduce, social tensions”, in accordance with a brand new report backed by Baroness Falkner.

The research, by Sir John Jenkins, the previous British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and Andrew Gilligan, who served as particular adviser to former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, stated rebranding the Islamophobia definition into one among “anti-Muslim hostility” makes it even wider and extra harmful.

In a report for suppose tank Policy Exchange, they stated it will revive the follow of police recording “non-crimes”, although some forces have scrapped “non-crime hate incidents” which noticed individuals visited by cops over feedback that had been authorized however could possibly be thought-about offensive.

The report’s authors stated: “We argue that giving Muslims special protections not available to others will be disastrous for them, and for everyone else.

“It will fuel, not diminish, hostility towards Muslims. It will empower divisive extremes – both in Muslim communities, by creating new opportunities for challenge, grievance and attack in every institution and workplace; and on the nativist right. It will increase, not reduce, social tensions.”

They stated: “The dictionary definition of ‘hostility’ includes ‘not liking’ something, ‘not agreeing’ with it or being ‘opposed’ to it.

“It is perfectly accurate, for instance, to describe the National Secular Society as hostile to the growth of Muslim (and other religious) schools. No hatred is present here, merely opposition.”

Baroness Falkner stated: “I welcome this valuable report and agree with it that the proposed definition is even worse than anticipated. It is dangerous and divisive. That it will become a free speech and thought-control problem is immediately evident. If there is one policy that cries out for another government U-turn, it is this.”