Backdoor blasphemy law ‘will never happen’ says Communities Secretary Steve Reed

A backdoor blasphemy law “will never happen” Communities secretary Steve Reed has repeatedly told GB News, as he prepares to publish the Government’s official definition of islamophobia “very shortly”.

Free speech campaigners are worried that the new definition will make it unlawful to criticise the Muslim faith in the same way that people are able to critique Christianity.

In an interview with GB News’ Chopper’s Political Podcast, Reed said three times that the definition would never lead to a blasphemy law. “That will never happen on my watch. Absolutely, never,” he said.

“There will be no restrictions on the right to criticise a particular religion or religion in general on my watch. What we’ll do is look at how we can protect people from abuse that is extreme.”

Reed said that the islamophobia definition – which has been developed by a working group led by former Conservative attorney general Dominic Grieve – will be published “very shortly”.

Reed added: “There is a problem too, with the Muslim community, feeling hatred directed at them. You know, 40 per cent of all complaints about hatred are affecting the Muslim community. So there is really a problem.

“We need to look at it, but not in a way that damages free speech. Not in a way that affects people’s rights to criticise religion in general or a religion in particular.”

The definition will be non-statutory, meaning it is not set in law or legally binding, but will provide a form of words public bodies can adopt, the BBC reported last month.

It is intended to provide guidance to the government and other bodies on what constitutes unacceptable treatment of Muslims, aiming to help them better understand and quantify prejudice and hate crimes against this group.

A draft version of the new definition seen by the BBC did not mention the word “Islamophobia”.

It said: “Anti-Muslim hostility is engaging in or encouraging criminal acts, including acts of violence, vandalism of property, and harassment and intimidation whether physical, verbal, written or electronically communicated, which is directed at Muslims or those perceived to be Muslims because of their religion, ethnicity or appearance.

“It is also the prejudicial stereotyping and radicalisation of Muslims, as part of a collective group with set characteristics, to stir up hatred against them, irrespective of their actual opinions, beliefs or actions as individuals.

“It is engaging in prohibited discrimination where the relevant conduct – including the creation or use of practices and biases within institutions – is intended to disadvantage Muslims in public and economic life.”