UK adopts definition of 'hatred towards Muslims'

The British government has adopted a new recommended definition of anti-Muslim hatred to help authorities better identify and address attacks and abuse directed at this community. It is part of an effort to clarify how institutions should respond to the growing number of such incidents.

According to data for the year ending March 2025, nearly 4,500 hate crimes targeting Muslims were recorded in England and Wales. This represents almost half of all religiously motivated crimes. The statistics also include cases where victims were mistakenly believed to be Muslim.

The new definition is not legally binding. It includes behaviors such as violence, vandalism, harassment, intimidation, or prejudice against Muslims or people perceived to be Muslims.

The British government noted that the measure aims to help protect people from hostile behavior intended to intimidate or divide society. At the same time, it emphasized that the right to freedom of expression remains intact and that legitimate criticism of religious beliefs, including Islam, continues to be protected.

However, some opposition MPs warned that the definition could blur the line between legitimate criticism of religion and illegal hate speech.

(reuters, max)