The Problem of Definition

The question of ‘Islamophobia’ has risen to the top of the political agenda. Calls for an inquiry into the alleged pervasiveness of ‘Islamophobic’ sentiment within the Conservative Party have been paralleled by demands for the government to adopt an official definition of the term. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Muslims came up with such a definition in late 2018 and since then, its advocates have promoted its adoption across the board. That would be a mistake.