UK police have rejected a proposed definition of Islamophobia, saying it could challenge free speech and undermine counter-terrorism efforts

It has been a week for those decrying the idea of institutional Islamophobia in Britain to inadvertently prove that it exists.  

First, there was Policy Exchange’s report, “On Islamophobia”, co-authored by the erstwhile head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Trevor Phillips. Then Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, weighed in with concerns about an all-party parliamentary group’s proposed definition of Islamophobia.  

Hewitt suggested that defining Islamophobia as “rooted in racism and… a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness” is too broad.

The police chief said the definition could cause confusion for officers enforcing it, be used to challenge legitimate free speech regarding “Islamic states”, and undermine counter-terrorism efforts. By the end of Wednesday, his leaked letter to the prime minister appeared to have done the trick, scuppering both Conservative party and UK government acceptance of the definition.

Read the rest of the article on its source on MiddleEastEye here.