It’s time to crack down on Muslim-on-Muslim hatred

There is no doubt that we need a clear definition of anti-Muslim hatred. Having set up Tell MAMA – an organisation monitoring attacks on Muslims – in 2011, I have seen anti-Muslim hate jump in the years since.

Fear within Muslim communities has risen as mosques, people and Islamic institutions have been targeted. Together with a corresponding rise in far-right extremist groups, a series of Islamist extremist attacks and the wild west of social media, it can be a difficult time to be a Muslim in Britain.

This is why I welcome the government’s call for a working definition of Islamophobia that can find a middle ground between anti-Muslim bigotry, legitimate criticism of religions (such as Islam) and the right to dissent from believing in any element of faith. I dislike the word Islamophobia as it gives an impression to people that Islam needs some form of special defence. It doesn’t. I don’t care whether people like or dislike Islam.