Defining Islamophobia: Words Matter!
Thursday February 05 2026
News reports continue to suggest that the government is close to releasing its new definition of Islamophobia/anti-Muslim hostility. MEND and partner organisations believe it is vital that it adopts the term Islamophobia, rather than the narrower and inadequate phrase “anti-Muslim hostility.” Here is why…As a term, “anti-Muslim hostility” suggests a narrow focus on individual acts of prejudice – insults, abuse or isolated incidents of intimidation and violence. But as most Muslims unfortunately know all too well, the reality of the discrimination we face is far broader and deeper. Islamophobia describes a system, not just individual behaviours.
Muslims experience discrimination across public life: in employment, education, healthcare, media representation and political discourse. Mosques are now regularly attacked, Muslim women are harassed and insulted in public and Muslim communities are routinely portrayed as threats in sections of the press and in our political climate that is increasingly dominated by the far-right. These real harms cannot be understood or addressed by a term that reduces them to personal animosity alone, like anti-Muslim hostility.
Crucially, Islamophobia must be understood and framed as a form of racialised religious discrimination.
What does this mean?
Islamophobia targets people through their perceived Muslim identity. It often follows visible cultural markers and identity indicators, rather than theology/beliefs. In other words, Islamophobia often targets people – not always Muslim – based on how they look, dress, speak and how their religious and cultural practices are perceived. This explains why Sikh men wearing turbans have been attacked by racists who mistook them for being Muslim based on their appearance. This is why Muslim women who wear the hijab are singled out and often face discrimination more than Muslim men. Therefore, Islamophobia operates in ways comparable to racism, even though its victims – both Muslim and non-Muslim – come from diverse backgrounds.
The term Islamophobia has been recognised by over 850 organisations in the UK, by local authorities and universities up and down the country and by international bodies like the United Nations and European Union. Replacing this widely used term with “anti-Muslim hostility” does not promote clarity; it would simply dilute protections for our community, ignore systemic discrimination, undermine accountability and overlook the fact that Islamophobia is a system.
Words matter because they shape policy, law and enforcement. A definition that fails to name Islamophobia for what it is – a form of racialised religious discrimination – fails the communities it is meant to protect.
We urge all members of the public – Muslim and non-Muslim – to to write to their MPs and call on the government to adopt a robust definition of Islamophobia that reflects lived reality and delivers equal protection under the law.
The government must NOT ditch the term Islamophobia, and it must recognise it as a form of racialised religious discrimination. Anything less will very likely not work.
ACT NOW by contacting your local MP and explaining to them WHY any government definition MUST use the term Islamophobia and NOT anti-Muslim hostility.
We have prepared a short guide to help you do this:
(1) To send your MP a direct email:
- Click HERE and enter your postcode. Click the name of your MP, which should be coloured in blue. You will then see a message box. Use the rough email template below, but IT IS IMPORTANT TO EDIT THE EMAIL INTO YOUR OWN WORDS AS MPS EMAIL SYSTEMS TEND TO DELETE IDENTICAL EMAILS, EVEN IF BY DIFFERENT SENDERS.
- Fill in the remaining information in the ‘about you’ section
- Hit “Preview and send”
(2) To contact your MP via social media platforms:
- Click HERE and enter your postcode, then click ‘search.’
- You will then see the name and a photo of your MP displayed at the top of the page.
- Next to this on the right hand side, you will see the available social media handles for your MP.
- Click the social media platform you wish to contact them through.
You may wish to write a short message explaining why the government should adopt Islamophobia over anti-Muslim hostility (for this you can draw from the email template below, although we encourage you to edit it into your own words).
Alternatively, you may wish to arrange a meeting with your MP at their local constituency office, which we strongly encourage if you are able to meet face to face.
(3) To contact your MP’s Constituency or Parliamentary office directly
- Click HERE and enter your postcode, then click ‘search.’
- You will then see the name and a photo of your MP displayed at the top of the page.
- Next to this, you will see a clickable link that says ‘UK Parliament Profile.’
- On your MP’s profile, you will see a clickable tab at the top of the lefthand column which says ‘contact information.’
- Once you have clicked this, you will be presented with the telephone number and email address for your MP’s Parliamentary office and Constituency office.
If you choose to write an email explaining why the government should adopt the term Islamophobia over anti-Muslim hostility, you can draw from the email template below, but again, we encourage you to edit it into your own words.
If you choose to telephone, you will likely reach the MP’s receptionist or a case worker. You will be able to request a call back or an in-person meeting with your MP.
BEFORE talking with your MP on the phone or before arranging a meeting with them in person, we STRONGLY encourage you to make sure you have clearly laid out in your mind your reasoning for calling upon the government to use the term Islamophobia over anti-Muslim hostility.
At the very least, you should reread the explanation set out at the top of this page. Additionally – if you have the time – we also suggest you read MEND’s submission to Parliament, laying out a more detailed case. You can find this HERE.
MEND are also happy to provide coaching and additional support to prepare you for discussions with your MP. For this, please contact us at: [email protected]
“Dear [MP’s name],
I am writing as a constituent to urge you to support the adoption of a robust definition of Islamophobia, and to oppose replacing this term with the much narrower phrase “anti-Muslim hostility.”
“Anti-Muslim hostility” focuses on individual acts of prejudice. Islamophobia, however, captures the wider reality Muslims face: discrimination across public life, including in employment, education, media representation and political discourse, as well as attacks on mosques and harassment in public spaces. It describes a system of discrimination, not just isolated incidents of prejudice.
Crucially, Islamophobia must be understood as racialised religious discrimination. Islamophobia targets people through their perceived Muslim identity. It often follows visible identity markers, rather than theology/beliefs. In other words, Islamophobia often targets people - not always Muslim - based on how they look, dress, speak and how their religious and cultural practices are perceived. This explains why Sikh men wearing turbans have been attacked through mistaken identity based on their appearance and why visibly Muslim women are disproportionately targeted. Therefore, Islamophobia operates in ways comparable to racism, even though its victims - both Muslim and non-Muslim - come from diverse backgrounds.
The term Islamophobia is already widely recognised - it is used by hundreds of organisations in the UK and recognised internationally by bodies such as the UN and EU. Replacing it would dilute protections, obscure systemic discrimination and weaken accountability.
I urge you to press the government to employ the term Islamophobia as part of any non-statutory definition and to ensure any definition reflects its racialised and structural nature.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]”