Free speech campaigners have claimed atheists could be be silenced by Labour’s new definition of Islamophobia.
In a letter to the Government, the Free Speech Union (FSU) suggested the new definition would capture activities and speech that infringed upon people’s rights to freedom of thought and expression.
A new definition of Islamophobia is expected to be set out as part of guidance on anti-Muslim hatred.
However critics have argued the move could act as a backdoor “blasphemy law” and limit free speech, though the Government has said its focus is on protecting people from unacceptable treatment.
The FSU cited the controversial academic and author Richard Dawkins as someone who could be targeted under the plans, reports The Telegraph.
The letter said: “The philosophical beliefs of atheists such as Prof Richard Dawkins could also be captured and regulated by the definition and guidance, despite their unquestionable contribution to a free and democratic society.
“Dawkins, for example, regularly criticises Islam, including what he believes to be its oppressive qualities. Indeed, in 2013 Dawkins, referred to Islam as ‘the greatest force for evil in the world today’.
“[He] was quick to point out his statements were directed at Islamism, and those who use religion for political objectives, and not mere adherents of the faith, but his statements may be understood by some to be captured by the second element.”
The letter cited author Richard Dawkins as someone who would be targeted
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The FSU added Sikhs could also be targeted by the rule, pointing to practices such as marking the anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, a key figure in the faith who was executed in 1675 under the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
The letter said: “Simply recounting this historical matter could be deemed a form of anti-Muslim hostility, especially if it made, say, a Muslim person feel unsafe or unprotected in the workplace or while accessing public services.”
Women who criticise Islam could also be impacted by the new definition, according to the letter.
The FSU claimed the definition could have a “chilling effect” on the ability to “comment on, and critique, aspects of Islam and the acts of those that follow it that are deeply harmful for women in particular.”
The new definition of Islamophobia has proved controversial
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The campaign group suggested individuals and organisations which highlight and criticise practices such as predatory grooming gangs and female genital mutilation (FGM) could be hit.
The FSU suggested plans to record cases of anti-Muslim hostility would draw police and other public authorities into the same legal issues they faced with non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs).
They added it could lead to “offensive” comments being logged as anti-Muslim hostility even though they could be defended as legitimate free speech.
The letter called it “An interference with freedom of expression and knowledge that such matters are being recorded and stored in a police database is likely to have a serious ‘chilling effect’ on public debate.”
Communities Minister Steve Reed has denied claims of ‘blasphemy laws by the back door’
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PAAn MHCLG spokesman told The Telegraph: “Our definition of anti-Muslim hostility gives a clear explanation of unacceptable prejudice, discrimination and hatred targeting Muslims so we can take action to stop it, while protecting our fundamental right to freedom of speech.”
The latest Government figures, published in October, showed that religious hate crime recorded by police in England and Wales reached a record high in the year ending March 2025.
Not including the Metropolitan Police, due to changes in the crime recording system preventing direct year-on-year comparisons, hate crimes targeted at Muslims were up by almost a fifth, from 2,690 offences recorded in the 12 months to March last year to 3,199 offences in the year ending March 2025.
In that 12-month period there were 106 religious hate crimes per 10,000 population targeted at Jewish people, which was the highest rate for any religious group.
The second highest rate was for hate crimes targeted at Muslims, with 12 per 10,000 population.
Paul Holmes issued the warning about the definition
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GB NewsShadow communities minister Paul Holmes said the Islamophobia definition “raises serious questions”.
He added: “It risks undermining free speech within the law, it risks hindering legitimate criticism of Islamism, and it risks creating a backdoor blasphemy law.”
His Government counterpart Steve Reed rejected this, saying: “There is absolutely no question of blasphemy laws by the back door.
“But we will not do what they did and stand by and simply watch while Muslim communities face targeted abuse in ways that any decent country would consider to be absolutely intolerable.”
British Muslim Trust (BMT) chairman Shabir Randeree welcomed the new definition of anti-Muslim hostility, saying it “will help guide institutions that have too often been too slow or too weak in their responses to incidents a tolerant and respectful country like ours must never accept”
He added: “The BMT looks forward to seeing the impact and implementation of the definition and we will not be afraid to raise our voice if we don’t see the positive change needed to keep Muslim communities safe and protected, as well as all victims of anti-Muslim hate.”