The UK government officially adopted a new, non-statutory definition of "anti-Muslim hostility" on March 9, 2026. This definition was developed following a review led by former Conservative Attorney General Dominic Grieve KC.

 

The UK government officially adopted a new, non-statutory definition of "anti-Muslim hostility" on March 9, 2026. This definition was developed following a review led by former Conservative Attorney General Dominic Grieve KC.

A key point of contention in the new definition is that it does not explicitly include the word "race" or the concept of "racialisation". This marks a significant departure from the 2018 All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) definition, which stated that "Islamophobia is rooted in racism".

 

Key Details of the New Definition

Terminology and Focus: Moving from "Islamophobia" to "anti-Muslim hostility," the definition targets actions against individuals based on their actual or perceived religion.

Exclusion of Racism: Grieve argued that, as a matter of law, religion and race are distinct, thus excluding the concept of "racialization". The definition also specifically protects the right to criticize, insult, or ridicule religious beliefs.

Scope: It covers criminal acts (violence, harassment), prejudicial stereotyping, and institutional discrimination.

 

Reaction and Criticism

Critique from Community Groups: Organizations like the Muslim Council of Britain and the Islamophobia Response Unit argue the definition "falls short" by failing to acknowledge the "spectrum of racism" experienced by Muslims.

Free Speech and Support: While some groups, such as the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and British Muslim Trust, expressed concerns about free speech or welcomed it as a step against rising hate crimes, the omission of a racial element remains a major point of debate.