Amy Mek
Keir Starmer’s Labour government is hurtling toward an Orwellian nightmare: a formal definition of “Islamophobia” that will criminalize dissent, shield dangerous ideologies from scrutiny, and further erode Britain’s already fragile freedoms. This isn’t hyperbole—it’s a chilling reality unfolding before our eyes.
Six months ago, Peter Whittle of the New Culture Forum warned us about this dangerous trajectory. He exposed Labour’s plans to conflate Islam—a belief system—with race, creating a pseudo-blasphemy law to silence criticism. Whittle’s foresight is now painfully relevant as Robert Jenrick, Shadow Justice Secretary, highlights how the “false label” of Islamophobia hampered investigations into the grooming gang scandals, where Muslim and predominantly Pakistani men preyed on vulnerable white working-class girls.
For decades, official policy concerning how these perpetrators are to be described, allowed these horrors to persist. Police, social workers, and politicians prioritized “community cohesion” over the safety of children, afraid that acknowledging the perpetrators’ backgrounds would spark accusations of racism or “Islamophobia.” Jenrick rightly condemned this cowardice, declaring that the rule of law was abandoned to sustain the destructive phrase, “Diversity is our strength.” Thousands of lives were destroyed in the process.
Millions of people in this country want justice and answers for the thousands of young girls who were raped and abused in the most evil ways imaginable.
— Robert Jenrick (@RobertJenrick) January 6, 2025
They want an end to the abuse that victims say continues to this very day.
They are not the far-right – and to suggest…
Labour’s Dangerous Definition
The Labour government is now doubling down on this moral failure. Their proposed definition of Islamophobia, adopted from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims, defines it as “a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” This nonsensical and illiterate definition purposely conflates religion with race, making it virtually impossible to criticize any aspect of Islamic practice or culture without risking legal repercussions.
This is not about combating hatred—it’s about silencing debate. Under such a definition, legitimate criticism of forced veiling, Sharia courts, or even the cultural dynamics of grooming gangs could be labeled as “Islamophobic.” Worse still, it hands extremists a powerful tool to shut down scrutiny by claiming victimhood.
Peter Whittle explicitly warned about this dangerous definition, calling it “nonsensical and illiterate” and pointing out how it conflates Islam with race to stifle free discussion. He noted:
“Islamophobia is an invented word which has been used time and again to stifle argument and valid opinion. This new definition widens it to such an extent that all debate or discussion on a whole range of enormously important issues will be effectively shut down.”
He further highlighted how this definition would make it impossible to express legitimate concerns, stating:
“Criticism of Islamic belief itself simply will not be possible.”
Faith leaders and organizations like the Network of Sikh Organisations (NSO) have already raised alarms. The NSO warned that this definition could suppress factual discussions about religious persecution and historical truths. One could argue that this outcome is so predictable and deliberate that it may well be the true intention behind these laws. Even Muslim Fiyaz Mughal, founder of the radical left-wing Islamic group Tell Mama, noted that bad behavior within any religious group must be called out and warned against turning a flawed definition into law. Yet Starmer and his allies remain determined to embed this censorship in Britain’s legal framework.
Protecting the Wrong People
The timing of this push is as revealing as it is disturbing. It comes amidst rising public outrage over Labour’s failure to address the systemic abuse of young girls by grooming gangs, consisting of mainly Pakistani migrants. Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently called out the British government for its failure to act, reigniting focus on this appalling scandal. Instead of addressing these legitimate concerns, Starmer and Labour double down on their Islamophobia narrative, prioritizing the protection of a belief system over justice for victims.
As Jenrick pointed out:
“The foreign nationals responsible must be deported—no ifs, no buts. And the officials who covered it up must be sent to jail.”
This is the strong action Britain needs, not a censorship agenda that perpetuates the very failures that allowed these atrocities to occur.
Labour’s focus on their Islamophobia definition also diverts attention from the systemic failures behind the grooming gang scandals. For years, police and social workers ignored the plight of victims to avoid accusations of racism, allowing widespread abuse to continue unchecked. These failures were not isolated but rather symptomatic of a broader cultural cowardice.
Freedom Under Attack
Make no mistake: Labour’s Islamophobia definition is a direct assault on freedom of speech and democracy. Peter Whittle warned that Labour’s plan amounts to reintroducing a modern blasphemy law in the UK, stating:
“We will effectively have, once again, a blasphemy law in the UK.”
It revives the spirit of Islamic blasphemy laws, criminalizing criticism of religion and forcing conformity to politically correct orthodoxy. The Conservatives, Reform Party, and other voices must urgently oppose this. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
Elon Musk’s intervention reignited focus on Labour’s inability to protect victims and ensure accountability. Instead of heeding these calls for justice, Starmer’s government seeks to enshrine this flawed definition into law, making it nearly impossible to scrutinize harmful practices such as forced marriages, honor killings, or extremist and overtly racist and illegal teachings by imams.
As Whittle warned, this agenda isn’t about protecting Muslims from genuine hatred; it’s about expanding state control over what can and cannot be said. Britain’s cherished principles of free speech and open debate are under siege. If Labour succeeds, criticizing harmful practices like child marriage, honor killings, or extremist teachings will become impossible.
A Call to Action
Britain cannot afford to be silent. The public must demand accountability for past failures, justice for grooming gang victims, and the protection of free speech at all costs. Labour’s Islamophobia agenda is a betrayal of British values and an insult to those who fought for our freedoms.
Starmer’s government has shown where its loyalties lie: by preserving an image of “diversity” at any cost, even if it means sacrificing justice and truth. Whittle summed up the stakes perfectly:
“Without free speech, our beleaguered democracy will finally truly die.”
This cannot stand. It’s time to reject Labour’s dangerous agenda, expose their moral cowardice, and defend Britain’s right to speak freely and demand justice.
RAIR Foundation
The correct suffix in most cases is not “phobia,” meaning “fear of,” it is “misia,” meaning “revulsion or disgust with.” The correct word to describe most of us is “Ismalomisia.”
Editors: please revise prior to “Islamomisia.”