UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK PM Keir Starmer faces warnings against an official Islamophobia definition, with advisers citing free speech risks and potential overzealous enforcement.
As reported by The Telegraph, Jonathan Hall KC, the government’s top terror laws adviser, has warned Keir Starmer against defining Islamophobia, citing risks to free speech.
What did Jonathan Hall say about defining Islamophobia and free speech?
Jonathan Hall KC, UK terror laws reviewer, opposes an official Islamophobia definition, arguing it targets religion, not people.
He warned that unclear Islamophobia rules may endanger free expression with strict enforcement by police and officials.
Mr Hall stated,
“I am against an Islamophobia definition because it’s directed at a thing, at religion, rather than an anti-Muslim hatred law, which is about protecting people.”
He said,
“I am very conscious about the free speech debate. I’m not JD Vance [the US vice-president], and I have a fundamental support for the outline of the Online Safety Act… So I’m not an absolutist.”
The terror adviser stated,
“But if you see what has happened with a comedian arrested at Heathrow for tweets, there appears to be a sort of degree of zealousness among some parts of law enforcement.”
He said,
“And I suppose at the moment I wouldn’t want to trust something too spongy or inaccurate when it comes to [free] speech and expression with the authorities.”
Since 2019, Mr Hall has reviewed terrorism laws and now advises the government on threats from Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Ministers have tasked him with advising on banning Iran’s IRGC, tackling prison extremism, and threats from lone actors like Axel Rudakubana.
Mr Hall’s statements add fuel to the debate over the Government’s controversial proposals.
How did Angela Rayner’s Islamophobia plan face Mr Hall’s criticism?
Jonathan Hall’s intervention marks the biggest challenge yet to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s plans, who is also responsible for communities and social cohesion.
She created a working group, led by ex-Tory attorney general Dominic Grieve, to establish a non-statutory definition of Islamophobia for use in universities, government, and public sector workplaces.
The move aims to tackle rising anti-Muslim abuse but may suppress valid criticism of Islam and act like a blasphemy law.
What did Fiyaz Mughal say about Keir Starmer’s Islamophobia plans?
Fiyaz Mughal, the founder of Tell Mama, a group established to address anti-Muslim hatred, stated,
“The independent reviewer of terrorism legislation is absolutely right to oppose the government’s plans to introduce an official definition of Islamophobia.”
He said,
“Former counter-terror police chiefs have warned for years a broad definition could be used by those being investigated by police and the security services to legally challenge those investigations and undermine counter-terrorism powers.”
Mr Mughal added,
“By pursuing this, the Government is putting narrow electoral interests ahead of our national security.”
What did Robert Jenrick say about Starmer’s Islamophobia plan?
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick calls Starmer’s Islamophobia move a “wake-up call” for the government.
He added,
“We already have robust laws against discrimination. As Jonathan Hall says, the proposed Islamophobia definition will censor legitimate criticism of Islam at a time when free speech in this country is already under threat.”
What did Lord Walney say about Islamophobia definition risks?
Lord Walney supports Mr Hall’s warning on dangers of Islamophobia definition.
He said,
“Defining the problem as Islamophobia implicitly protects a religion not a group of people – it risks heightening the climate of fear that has prevented institutions from tackling difficult issues like grooming gangs for fear of being wrongly labelled as bigots.”
Mr Walney added,
“Labour should focus on effective measures to tackle the very real problem of anti-Muslim hatred rather than stifling debate with a politically toxic definition of Islamophobia.”
All-Party Parliamentary Group definition of Islamophobia
According to the APPG,
“Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.”
key facts about incidents of anti-Muslim abuse in the UK
Tell Mama logged 6,313 anti-Muslim hate cases in 2024, with 5,837 verified—the highest since its founding in 2012. Offline incidents rose sharply to 3,680, a 72% increase from two years ago, while online abuse remained widespread on platforms like X.
For the first time, more men than women were targeted, reflecting changing stereotypes linking Muslim men to extremism. Major spikes followed the October 2023 Israel-Gaza conflict and the July 2024 Southport murders, fueled by misinformation falsely blaming Muslims.