Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to develop a definition of anti-Muslim hatred.
Answered by Lee Rowley
Anti-Muslim hatred is abhorrent and has no place in our society. No one should ever be a victim of hatred because of their religion or belief and the Government continues to work with police and community partners to monitor and combat it. We have funded Tell MAMA, a service that supports victims of anti-Muslim hatred, with over £6 million since their inception in 2012.
In light of the rise in anti-Muslim hate incidents being reported, the Government has increased Tell MAMA’s funding to £1 million this year. This funding will provide additional resource to the service they are providing to support victims of anti-Muslim hatred.
The department has given careful consideration to the use of language and definitions. The definition of Islamophobia as proposed by the APPG is not in line with the Equality Act 2010, which defines race in terms of colour, nationality and national or ethnic origins. The term anti-Muslim hatred is a more precise term which better reflects UK hate crime legislation.
The department is seeking the views and perspectives of domestic and international leaders and experts in this field to explore how religious hatred is experienced by British communities.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has held meetings in 2023 on (a) Islamophobia and (b) hate crime against Muslims.
Answered by Lee Rowley
This Government is committed to doing everything we can to tackle anti-Muslim hatred, and all forms of prejudice in our society. Ministers across Government hold meetings covering these important issues regularly.
DLUHC has allocated over £6 million to support Tell MAMA since their inception in 2012 for their vital work monitoring and supporting victims of anti-Muslim hatred.
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed. Details of meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June to Question 187005 on Islamophobia, if he will list the stakeholders being consulted on religious hatred in Britain.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Details of ministerial meetings are published on Gov.uk.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on changes in the levels of Islamophobic attitudes in society.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
This Government is committed to tackling the scourge of anti-Muslim hatred head-on through a coordinated cross-departmental effort. From ensuring the safety of worshippers in mosques to community engagement and supporting the victims, swift action has been taken to address anti-Muslim hatred and institute safeguards. For example, Tell MAMA has been provided with nearly £5m between 2016 and 2023 to monitor and combat anti-Muslim hatred.
We are taking a broad approach to religious hatred which will develop on the work of the previous Working Groups; seeking the views and perspectives of British and international experts in this field to explore how religious hatred is experienced by British communities, and how it affects different faiths and individuals. This engagement will explore the breadth and depth of religious hatred and will consider the question of terminology and definitions for hatred across and within religious communities, including anti-Muslim hatred. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when officials in his Department last met with the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
This Government is committed to tackling the scourge of anti-Muslim hatred head-on through a coordinated cross-departmental effort. From ensuring the safety of worshippers in mosques to community engagement and supporting the victims, swift action has been taken to address anti-Muslim hatred and institute safeguards. For example, Tell MAMA has been provided with nearly £5m between 2016 and 2023 to monitor and combat anti-Muslim hatred.
We are taking a broad approach to religious hatred which will develop on the work of the previous Working Groups; seeking the views and perspectives of British and international experts in this field to explore how religious hatred is experienced by British communities, and how it affects different faiths and individuals. This engagement will explore the breadth and depth of religious hatred and will consider the question of terminology and definitions for hatred across and within religious communities, including anti-Muslim hatred. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent discussions he has had with the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group about trends in Islamophobic hate crime.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
This Government is committed to tackling the scourge of anti-Muslim hatred head-on through a coordinated cross-departmental effort. From ensuring the safety of worshippers in mosques to community engagement and supporting the victims, swift action has been taken to address anti-Muslim hatred and institute safeguards. For example, Tell MAMA has been provided with nearly £5m between 2016 and 2023 to monitor and combat anti-Muslim hatred.
We are taking a broad approach to religious hatred which will develop on the work of the previous Working Groups; seeking the views and perspectives of British and international experts in this field to explore how religious hatred is experienced by British communities, and how it affects different faiths and individuals. This engagement will explore the breadth and depth of religious hatred and will consider the question of terminology and definitions for hatred across and within religious communities, including anti-Muslim hatred. In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether the Government plans to appoint a new independent adviser on tackling Islamophobia.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 182938 on 9 May 2023.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether any people were turned away from voting on Thursday 4 May 2023 because they were wearing religious head dress.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Regarding the assessment of the potential impact of voter identification on levels of fraud and turnout levels at the May 2023 local elections, I refer the Hon. Member to the response given to Question UIN 162192 on 14 March 2023.
Regarding the list of accepted forms of identification and the equality impact assessment, I refer the Hon. Member to the response to Question UIN 183968 and to UIN 180947 on 16 May 2023 and 20 April 2023.
No eligible electors should be turned away due to wearing religious head dress. Privacy screens or private areas must be, by law, available in all polling stations for electors who may wish to have their identity checked in private.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 183152 on 9 May 2023.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what discussions he has had with Muslim communities on the potential merits of an official definition of Islamophobia.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Anti-Muslim hatred is entirely abhorrent. Such hate has no place in our communities or society, which is why we have funded Tell MAMA since 2016 to monitor and combat anti-Muslim hatred.
As set out previously, the Government does not support taking forward work on an official definition of Islamophobia but instead is working to address anti-Muslim hatred and the unacceptable forms which that takes.
We are considering our approach to religious hatred more broadly, including anti-Muslim hatred, and will be announcing our next steps in due course.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing an official definition of Islamophobia.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
Anti-Muslim hatred is entirely abhorrent. Such hate has no place in our communities or society, which is why we have funded Tell MAMA since 2016 to monitor and combat anti-Muslim hatred.
As set out previously, the Government does not support taking forward work on an official definition of Islamophobia but instead is working to address anti-Muslim hatred and the unacceptable forms which that takes.
We are considering our approach to religious hatred more broadly, including anti-Muslim hatred, and will be announcing our next steps in due course.