UK: British Sikh group prepares legal action over Islamophobia definition

LONDON: A British Sikh organisation has threatened to instrumentality ineligible enactment against the UK authorities implicit a imaginable caller explanation of Islamophobia and the determination to name a moving radical to make one, pointing retired that immoderate government-backed explanation risks discriminating against different faiths.The Network of Sikh organisations (NSO), an umbrella assemblage for Sikhs successful the UK, has sent a pre-action missive to communities caput Steve Reed, raising concerns implicit the interaction of immoderate explanation connected Sikhs and connected state of religion and code successful Britain.The anti-Muslim hatred/Islamophobia moving radical was acceptable up successful March 2025 to make a non-statutory explanation of Islamophobia to supply the UK authorities and different applicable bodies with a greater knowing of prejudice against Muslims.

Ministers whitethorn opt not to judge the definition.The missive that the NSO is preparing to question a judicial review.The NSO argues that immoderate explanation of Islamophobia volition besides interfere with the close of Sikhs and others to freely manifest their religion and beliefs, a breach of the European Convention connected Human Rights.Lord Singh of Wimbledon, manager of NSO, wrote: “Sikhs are strictly forbidden to devour halal slaughtered nutrient due to the fact that halal slaughter, particularly non-stun slaughter, is inhumane.”

Yet conscionable asserting this would, by virtuousness of the 2018 explanation of Islamophobia by the All-Party-Parliamentary-Group (APPG) connected Muslims, beryllium considered Islamophobic, helium wrote.The ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, gave his beingness defending the state of content of Hindus who were being forced to person to Islam. “Simply recounting this humanities information would beryllium deemed Islamophobic according to the APPG definition,” Singh wrote.“There are countless different examples of Sikh (and so different spiritual and philosophical) beliefs and practices which would offend radical of the Islamic faith,” helium wrote.His missive besides criticises the consultation exercise, saying it was carried retired privately with prime groups and that NSO was not invited to supply evidence.Officials astatine the ministry of housing, communities and section govt (MHCLG) told TOI they had received the missive and would reply shortly. The moving radical received a effect to the telephone for grounds from the NSO. “The concerns they raised person informed the work,” a root said. “Any projected explanation indispensable beryllium compatible with the close to state of speech. That includes the close to … insult religions.”A MHCLG spokesperson said, “No decisions connected a explanation person been made, and we volition not judge immoderate explanation which damages state of code oregon discriminates against spiritual communities.”