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If you are worried about free speech implications of Islamophobia the best thing to do is the carefully define the term, with illustrative examples, and agree that definition.
That's what @APPGBritMuslims is admirably trying to do. The govt should work with not against them
That's what @APPGBritMuslims is admirably trying to do. The govt should work with not against them
@APPGBritMuslims I have tried to see this from govt's perspective - perhaps they are genuinely worried about free speech implications of the @APPGBritMuslims definition, of the wording ("Muslimness" perhaps not the simplest expression), of the association with racism (which for me makes sense...)
... but the way they approached @APPGBritMuslims's work seems disrespectful and high-handed. Why not go back with comments and concerns and see if they can work together? Why appoint their own experts? I can see why people in the Muslim communities see it as a kick in the teeth
... and this is especially sensitive because the Tory Party has its own growing problem with Islamophobia, which (a) means they are unlikely to be trusted as the gatekeepers to defining Islamophobia and (b) should mean they are working closely with the Muslim communities
It seems that the govt is taking an adversarial approach, e.g. by rejecting outright the association with racism.
Anyway, I have learned a huge amount from my work on antisemitism and I'm going to try and do my best to help on this issue, in whatever limited way I can
Anyway, I have learned a huge amount from my work on antisemitism and I'm going to try and do my best to help on this issue, in whatever limited way I can
