Islamophobia definition is no threat to free speech

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/may/17/islamophobia-definition-is-no-threat-to-free-speech

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We are at a crossroads where adopting a definition of Islamophobia has become critical. There is substantial evidence that Muslims are being prevented from enjoying their freedoms and participating more fully in political, economic, social, cultural and other fields of public life, and face increasing bigotry in public spaces and online.

It is clear from those who are resisting a definition of Islamophobia for public policy purposes that Islamophobia is poorly understood (Definition of Islamophobia is rejected by government, 16 May). Rather than being viewed as harm being experienced by Muslims in their daily lives, it is perceived as an attack on free speech or the ability to criticise a set of beliefs.

It is difficult to understand how defining a form of hatred against a group and bringing it in line with other forms of racism (and legislation) will stifle freedom of speech and undermine counter-terrorism legislation.

If free speech and/or counter-terrorism legislation is not unfairly singling out one group or community, there is no reason to believe that the adoption of a definition of Islamophobia will pose a threat to security and/or free speech.

As strong supporters of anti-racism and equality laws, we believe that people should be treated according to their individual attributes rather than stereotypes and misperceptions of group attributes.

There is strong evidence that Muslim communities are suffering considerable discrimination. Of course, there are different types of racism – faced by Jewish, Muslim and black communities – which have varying attributes. What connects these as racisms is the common experience of discrimination, and the use of cultural pathologies and stereotypes to vilify racialised minorities for decades.

We strongly urge ministers and the government to recognise that racism must be an integral part of any definition of Islamophobia.

Dr Omar Khan, The Runnymede TrustDr Edie Friedman, The Jewish Council for Racial Equality Andy Gregg, Race on the Agenda Jabeer Butt, Race Equality Foundation Rabia Mirza, British Muslims for Secular Democracy Charles Kwaku-Odoi, Caribbean and African Health NetworkSado Jirde, Black South West Network John Mayford, OLMECDr Mustapha Sheikh , Lecturer in Islamic studies, University of Leeds Dr Tajul Islam , Lecturer in Islamic studies, University of Leeds Dr Kasia Narkowicz , Lecturer in sociology and criminology, University of GloucestershireDr Shamim Miah , Senior lecturer, Department of Education and Community Studies, University of Huddersfield Dr Ben Whitham, Lecturer in international relations, De Montfort University, LeicesterDr Nadya Ali, Lecturer in international relations, University of Sussex Dr James Carr , Lecturer, Department of sociology, University of LimerickProf Gargi Bhattacharyya, Professor of sociology, University of East LondonDr Tom Mills, Lecturer in sociology, Aston UniversityProf James Dickins, Professor of Arabic, University of LeedsDr Brian Klug, Senior research fellow in philosophy, St Benet’s Hall, University of OxfordDr Paul Bagguley, Reader in sociology, University of LeedsProfessor Ian Law, Academic fellow, racism and ethnicity studies, University of Leeds Dr Amina Easat-Daas, Project officer, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of LeedsDr Karima Laachir, Senior lecturer in literary and cultural studies, SOAS, University of London Professor Nasar Meer, Professor of race, identity and citizenship, University of EdinburghDr Katy Sian, Lecturer in sociology, University of York Dr Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor, Research fellow, Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University Dr Fauzia Ahmad, Senior lecturer, Goldsmiths, University of LondonDr Michael Munnik, Lecturer in social science theories and methods, Cardiff UniversityProf Bridget Byrne, Professor of sociology, Director of the Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity, University of Manchester Dr Ajmal Hussain, Research fellow, Department of Sociology, University of Manchester Dr Chris Allen, Associate professor in hate studies, University of Leicester Dr Giulia Liberatore, Leverhulme Early career fellow/Lecturer in Muslims in Europe; Sociology and Islamic and Middle Eastern studies/Alwaleed Centre, University of Edinburgh Dr Khadijah Elshayyal, Postdoctoral research fellow, Alwaleed Centre from the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, University of Edinburgh Dr Elizabeth Poole, Senior lecturer in media, Keele University Dr Irene Zempi, Lecturer in criminology, Nottingham Trent University Prof Tariq Modood, Professor of sociology, politics and public policy, University of Bristol Abdoolkarim Vakil, Lecturer in contemporary Portuguese history, King’s College London Prof S Sayyid, Professor of social theory and decolonial thought, University of Leeds Dr Sadek Hamid, Writer, The New ArabProf Avtar Brah, Professor emerita of sociology, Birkbeck College, University of London Mr Tufyal Choudhury, Associate professor in law, University of DurhamDr HA Hellyer, Senior associate fellow, The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies. Former deputy convenor of the UK government’s taskforce on tackling radicalisation and extremism Dr Abida Malik, University of Nottingham Dr Salman al-Azami, Senior lecturer in English, Liverpool Hope University Dr Stephen H Jones, Lecturer of the sociology of religion, University of Birmingham Professor Tahir Abbas, Visiting senior fellow at the LSEProfessor Humayan Ansari, Professor of the history of Islam and cultural diversity, Royal Holloway, University of LondonNadeem Murtuja, Just Yorkshire