The SDP has made a submission to the Parliamentary working group on Anti-Muslim Hatred/Islamophobia relating to the Labour government’s plans for a new definition of ‘Islamophobia’. The party strongly rejects proposals to expand the law in this way on grounds that it would stifle free speech, protect certain ideas from warranted scrutiny, wrongly connect the distinct categories of religious belief and race, miscategorise rational concerns as irrational phobias, and finally, create an atmosphere inimical to an open democratic society.
Further to our submission we offer the following suplementary statement:
“Social cohesion is the essential task of democratic politics for the next generation.”
This statement opens the conclusion of the Social Democratic Party’s New Declaration (https://sdp.org.uk/new-declaration/). We assess all policy proposals against this benchmark: Does it improve or worsen social cohesion?
The incorporation of the term “Islamophobia” in law and its use of a definition to confer protected status to the particular set of ideas is intellectually incoherent and deeply damaging for any society that wishes to be healthily pluralistic and cohesive.
Social Democrats believe a cohesive society is one:
- in which fellow citizens engage with each other as equals;
- that possesses unifying values, strengthening the common bonds which unite us and, in so doing, re-enforces social solidarity;
- that rejects the current obsession with grievance and identity which divides our society into hostile and opposing camps;
- in which kindness and mutuality are a political rather than a legal achievement which relies on free consent rather than legal obligation;
- that upholds the values of freedom of thought and speech which lie at the heart of British democracy;
- that abides by a single code of civil laws;
- that requires of new immigrants effective socialisation and strong association with wider society.
Against each of these criteria, the current proposal will harm social cohesion. It would render the ideas held by a particular group to be protected from the reasonable freedom of others to criticise those ideas. It will worsen it by introducing further division and distinction rather than strengthening common bonds.
The SDP considers that existing legislation amply covers the conditions and circumstances being considered by the Working Group, including the notion of “anti-Muslim hatred”, and that there is no need whatsoever for more.
SDP leader William Clouston states: “Creation of a new ‘Islamophobia’ law would have a chilling effect on public discourse and freedom of expression in Britain. It is totally wrong-headed. Our leaders should be concentrating on setting the conditions for mutual respect and civilised tolerance rather than enacting unnecessary, damaging and divisive laws that will have precisely the opposite effect.”
Notes to editors:
1. For further information, and to arrange interviews, please contact William Clouston, SDP Party Leader, in the first instance – leader@sdp.org.uk
2. For more information about the SDP, please consult the SDP website.
