Kemi Badenoch has claimed Labour would risk creating a “blasphemy law” with its definition of Islamophobia.
The equalities minister said it was best to use the term “anti-Muslim hatred” to protect both religious freedom and “the freedom to criticise religion”.
Anneliese Dodds, Labour’s shadow equalities secretary, has accused senior Tories of failing to “call out Islamophobia” in the wake of Lee Anderson’s suspension, suggesting this was because the party had refused to “adopt the definition used by every other major political party in Britain”.
In its code of conduct, Labour states that there is “no single agreed definition of Islamophobia”. However, in 2019 it adopted a definition from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims, which describes Islamophobia as “a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness”.
But Mrs Badenoch suggested that taking this line would risk compromising “the freedom to criticise religion” and said Labour’s definition was “not in line with law as written”.
She posted on X: “We use the term ‘Anti-Muslim hatred’. It makes clear the law protects Muslims. In this country, we have a proud tradition of religious freedom and the freedom to criticise religion.
“The definition of ‘Islamophobia’ she uses creates a blasphemy law via the back door if adopted.
“As the minister for the Equality Act, I also know the definition of Islamophobia that Anneliese Dodds and Labour have adopted is not in line with law as written.”
Linking to a letter sent to Sajid Javid when he was home secretary, in which dozens of signatories alleged that the APPG’s definition of Islamophobia “threatens civil liberties”, Mrs Badenoch added: “Anti-Muslim hatred is more precise and better reflects the UK’s laws, as others have noted.”
The Cabinet minister was responding to a tweet from Ms Dodds, which said: “Why are senior Conservatives finding it so hard to call out Islamophobia?
“Perhaps because the Conservatives still refuse to adopt the definition used by every other major political party in Britain.
“To tackle the scourge of Islamophobia, we must name it.”
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Mr Anderson, who was the Tory party deputy chairman until last month, was suspended after claiming that “Islamists” have “got control” of Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London.
Mr Khan has accused the Prime Minister of “enabling anti-Muslim hatred in the Conservative Party”, while Labour has urged Mr Sunak to call the comments Islamophobic.
