Muslim hatred definition 'risks being thought control issue'

LABOUR plans to outlaw “anti-Muslim hostility” are dangerous and will become a thought-control problem, the former head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission has warned.

- BY JONATHAN WALKER

Baroness Falkner, who left the body in December after five years in charge, said: “If there is one policy that cries out for another government U-turn, it is this.”

Labour has tasked a working group chaired by former Tory Attorney General Dominic Grieve with drawing up an official description of anti-Muslim hatred.

Initial plans to define Islamophobia were scrapped over fears it would prevent legitimate criticism of religion, according to reports.