New definition of Islamophobia could cripple war on terror in UK, warns former terror boss
Ex-terror tsar Lord Carlile says describing Islamophobia as a 'type of racism' would hamper efforts to stop and search suspected extremists at ports
BRITAIN'S war on terror could be crippled if Ministers cave into MPs and accept a new controversial definition of islamophobia, an ex-terror tsar warns.
Lord Carlile said the form of words describing Islamophobia as a ‘type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness’ would hamper efforts to stop and search extremists at ports and returning ISIS fighters.
The peer said it would hold back the evolution of counter-terror law and instead see measures to stop terrorists declared “unlawful”.
The Policy Exchange think tank claimed the definition could see the Government, police and even the judiciary branded “institutionally islamophobic” for policies already in practice.
Lord Carlile the UK’s independent reviewer of terrorism legislation from 2001 to 2011 said: “Successful and accepted counter-terrorism measures would run the risk of being declared unlawful.
“It would lead to a judicial review litigation that would hold back the evolution of better counter-terrorism law and practice hand in hand with strengthened religious tolerance.”
MPs proposed the definition at the end of last year.
The blast came as Tory chair Brandon Lewis refused to say how many Tory members had been expelled for anti-Muslim comments.
He said it was only a “very, very small number”.
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