In its first public statement on Labour’s plans, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said that creating an official definition of Islamophobia or anti-Muslim hatred would clash with existing legal provisions.
The judgement is the biggest challenge yet to the controversial plans that have been drawn up by a working group, originally established by the former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner in her role as the Cabinet minister responsible for communities and social cohesion.
The group, chaired by Dominic Grieve, the former Tory attorney general, has submitted its proposals for a non-statutory definition of Islamophobia or anti-Muslim hatred that could become a template for the workplace policies of universities, governmental and other public sector bodies.
It is designed to counter a surge in anti-Muslim abuse, but critics say it could stifle legitimate criticism of Islam as a religion and act as a de facto blasphemy law. The EHRC statement will fuel demands from opponents for the Government to drop the plan....<<<Read More>>>...
