Labour definition of Islamophobia could give oxygen to far Right, says Muslim campaigner

A definition of Islamophobia which Labour is currently weighing would “hamper freedom of speech”, something which a man who developed a project that tracks islamophobic occurrences warned about. 
 
The chair of the APPG on and Islamic Extremism, Fiayaz Mughal said that expanding the definition of Islamophobia only amplifies it and ‘risks fueling or putting oxygen into’ groups like the far Right of the political spectrum. 
 
It could be used to stifle genuine discussions on pertinent issues like polygamy, ‘’observed the spokesman, whom the wording being considered by Sir Keir Starmer may muzzle. 
 
The Prime Minister is contemplating specific definition of Islamophobia, which he promised to do in opposition for the first time. 
 
But under the wording that Labour came up with, it would be described as “one form of racism that focuses on ‘Muslimness’ as an identifier or perceived Muslimness. ” 
 
Mr Mughal, who founded the TEL MAMA which tracks anti Muslim hate crimes was once primed for the job of being the Government’s first Islamophobia tsar. 
 
As for the concerns of Islamophobia, Mr Mughal said that he endorsed the notion that it must be defined more precisely, although he did not like the connotations of the global definition proposed by Sir Keir. 
 
He told Times Radio: Of course, there should be some form of definition but the definition to be provided should correspond to the current legal system. 
 
I think that those who are insisting that a definition should be agreed to at the present time; each of them has his perspective. I don’t accept it. 
 
“This is what I mean by a definition that is imprecise as to be largely meaningless: This is a definition that does not serve any purpose at all, other than to suppress free speech. ” 

This definition it could forbid legal criticism of Muslims by themselves or by other Muslims and this was the main reason Mr Mughal opposed the definition. 
 
He said that he was Against polygamy, a practice among Muslims But he added that a liberal definition could lock him out of expressing that opinion. 
 
“I think that is wrong,” the Goodly said He then posed a question: “Can that definition of an attack on somebody’s Muslimness be used against me?” 
 
“And so there are some legitimate areas where… we talk about free speech: where free speech actually is an important concept. 
 
Some of the senior Conservatives have protested that, by adopting such a definition of Islamophobia, people wishing to criticize Islam or Muslims could be silenced easily. 
 
Bob Blackman, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, said it may be quite dangerous if drawn up very loosely as it might degenerate into a so-called blasphemy law. 
 
Again, as not very legal in nature, although there was criticism earlier on that with such a broad definition of extremism, counter efforts are likely to suffer. 
 
This definition of anti-Semitism was adopted in 2016 and is used by the police, judges and large companies, for example, using the IHRA. 
 
A government spokesman said: “It will deal with considerations and positions such as these, and we will indicate in due course, any changes in the Government’s stance on this in due course. ”