Kevin Hollinrake, the shadow communities secretary, said: “The ‘Islamophobia’ definition risks creating a chilling effect on free speech, legitimate and lawful debate and hindering criticism of Islamist extremism.
Tory frontbenchers have previously claimed endorsing the definition of Islamophobia agreed by an all-party parliamentary group on British Muslims would create a “blasphemy law” by the backdoor.
But the Conservatives have claimed using the phrase Islamophobia carries a risk to free speech, and have urged the Government to focus on the phrase anti-Muslim hatred instead.
Ministers have launched a “working group” aimed at forming an official definition of what is meant by Islamophobia or anti-Muslim hatred within six months.
Work to create an official definition of Islamophobia would risk “a chilling effect on free speech”, the Conservatives have warned.
