MPs urge minister to adopt definition of Islamophobia amid rise in hate crime
GuardianNOV 5
UK Proposes 'Anti-Muslim Hostility' Definition
Is this an essential protection against surging hate crimes, or a threat to free speech that creates two-tier policing?
Above: Street scene in the ethnically diverse area of Whitechapel in London, U.K., on Dec. 2, 2025. Image credit: Mike Kemp/Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Anti-Muslim hate crimes have almost doubled since 2023, with Muslims now facing close to half of all religious hate crimes — yet they're still unprotected as a racial group under current law. A robust definition of anti-Muslim hatred is desperately needed to address this escalating crisis while preserving free speech, especially when the government already adopted similar protections for antisemitism back in 2016.
Right narrative
This isn't about putting Muslims on an equal footing, but rather granting them privileged status above other faiths that will chill free speech on issues like grooming gangs and terrorism through vague terms like "prejudicial stereotyping." Besides the fact that a significant portion of Britons oppose it, this proposal of treating the perception of offense as actual offense creates two-tier policing, wasting tax dollars on speech police.
Limited Coverage
This story currently has limited reporting from left-leaning sources. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our coverage as additional perspectives become available.