Britain's Labour Party makes history as it formally adopts definition of Islamophobia

LONDON: The Labour Party has formally adopted a definition of Islamophobia arguing that it is vital to tackle the rise of far-right racism in Britain which is rooted in racism and hatred.

British Pakistani parliamentarians Sayeeda Warsi, Naz Shah and Afzal Khan worked for many months with other parliamentarians to get the definition adopted. The Liberal Democrats have already adopted the same definition.

The Labour Party on Wednesday said its national executive committee has adopted the working definition produced by the all-party parliamentary group on British Muslims “to help tackle Islamophobia, build a common understanding of its causes and consequences, and express solidarity with Muslim communities”.

The definition reads: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.”

The definition was produced by the group to build a common understanding of the causes and consequences of Islamophobia. It was decided upon after a six-month consultation with academics, lawyers, elected officials, Muslim organisations, activists, campaigners, and communities.

More than 800 British Muslim organisations, 80 academics and 50 MPs have backed the definition.

Former cabinet minister Baroness Sayeeda Warsi while speaking to Geo News said it is a historic development. “It’s a historic decision and will have a huge impact in Britain and beyond. We have campaigned for many months diligently on reaching out to various stakeholders to get them round to the definition of Islamophobia. The decision by the Labour Party to adopt the definition of Islamophobia starts to frame the basis upon which Muslim communities will be protected in future. The definition has massive support of all Muslim organisation.”

She further said Islamophobia poses a grave challenge to Muslims in Britain. “The definition of Islamophobia makes it clear that liberation movements in Kashmir and Palestine will not be linked with terrorism and extremism and that these movements are legitimate expressions of the right to self-determination,” Warsi said.

Parliament member Afzal Khan told The News, “Following the recent events in New Zealand and the suspension of nearly 40 members from the Tory Party over alleged Islamophobia, the need to recognise Islamophobia has never been greater.”

“Today, the Labour Party has adopted the official definition put forward by the The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims. I applaud them for taking this important and positive step and sincerely hope the Conservative Party follows suit. There is no place for racism and discrimination and it must be rooted out in all its forms,” he added.

Labour MP for Bradford West Naz Shah said all political parties should adopt the definition.

“This could not be more urgent, while Islamophobia has been rising in our society and across the world, and support for the far right and their extremist white supremacist views is growing,” she said.

“Instead of challenging and campaigning against this hate-filled prejudice, many politicians have actively fuelled it, from the Conservatives’ overtly Islamophobic campaign against Sadiq Khan becoming mayor in 2016 to Boris Johnson’s vile comments about Muslim women,” Shah added.

Shah further said, “We must work together to rid our country of this evil, starting by urging widespread adoption of this definition so we can create deeper understanding and awareness at every level of our society.”

Chairman of the British Muslim Friends of Labour Shokat Ali also welcomed the Labour Party’s adoption of the definition of Islamophobia and said all political parties should adopt it.

“Islamophobia has been rising in our society and across the world for a long time. We all must unite together and work to rid our country of this evil. We must urge widespread adoption of this definition so we can create deeper understanding and awareness at every level of our society.”

In April 2018, the APPG on British Muslims initiated an inquiry into a working definition of Islamophobia as a catalyst for building a common understanding of the causes and consequences of Islamophobia.