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Written question asked by Kevin Hollinrake (Conservative) on Monday, 10 March 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 12 March 2025. It was answered by Alex Norris (Labour) on Wednesday, 19 March 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.


Freedom of Expression

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2025 to Question 24223 on Freedom of Expression, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of introducing a definition of Islamophobia on legal rights to freedom of expression relating to blasphemy.

Answer

The Government has established a new working group to provide government with a definition of Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia, advising government and other bodies on how to best understand, quantify and define prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime targeted against Muslims. The group’s proposed definition must be compatible with the unchanging right of British citizens to exercise freedom of speech and expression. The Government has been clear that there is no blasphemy law in England, and we will not introduce one.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
36684
Session
2024-26
Related items
Freedom of Expression
Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Blasphemy Freedom of expression Anti-Muslim hostility
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk