The founder of the Oxford Institute for British Islam has criticised Angela Rayner’s proposed new Islamophobia council, stating the term itself is “incorrect”.
Speaking to GB News, Dr Taj Hargey argued that “anti-Muslim prejudice” would be more accurate, explaining that “Islamophobia is a catch all thing, it’s not a racist thing”.
“You have black Muslims, you have white Muslims, you have brown Muslims, and this idea of Islamophobia is just a catch all phrase to prevent the real free speech”, Dr Hargey said.
Hargey emphasised the importance of open dialogue about faith, stating: “I, as a Muslim, encourage and welcome criticisms and dialogue about my faith.”
Dr Taj Hargey has hit out at Deputy PM Angela Rayner for implementing an ‘Islamophobia council’
PA / GB News
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is set to establish a 16-member council on Islamophobia within her Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Former Conservative Attorney General Dominic Grieve has been recommended to chair the council, which will advise ministers on tackling Islamophobia.
Delivering his verdict to GB News, Dr Hargey delivered a stark message about the need for honest dialogue about terrorism in Britain.
“Who does most of the so-called violent terrorism in this country? It’s not Sikhs, it’s not Jews, it’s not Hindus, it’s Muslims. And we need to call a spade a spade,” he told the People’s Channel.
Rayner is set to create a ‘council on Islamophobia’ to draw up an official definition of the term
PA
Dr Hargey also stressed the importance of having “honest, fearless people” willing to discuss these issues openly on the council, rather than hiring Labour “disciples”.
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He criticised the planned council, stating: “Rayner and company, they will have their disciples and the devotees on this council, and I think we need honest, fearless people out there.”
“Muslims, especially people like myself, but others as well, who can be honest and open and listen,” Hargey added.
Dr Hargey concluded: “We live in a society that lauds free speech, and we don’t need in the 21st century to novel this, to restrict it and to make it more difficult for people to have honest dialogue.
“When we don’t have frank discussions, we have an antipathy, hostility and resentment building up. And in fact, we need a pressure valve, a release valve where people can discuss these things openly without being called racist.”
Dr Hargey told GB News that the plan is ‘anti free speech’
GB News
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman responded: “All forms of religious and racial hatred have absolutely no place in our society.”
The spokesman added that the Government is “actively exploring a more integrated and cohesive approach to tackling racial and religious hatred, including Islamophobia and antisemitism”.
When contacted, Dominic Grieve confirmed he had not yet received a formal approach from MHCLG.
However, he stated: “If I can be of assistance in doing something constructive requested by any Government on a non-party political basis I am willing to consider it.”
He added that defining Islamophobia is “extremely difficult for perfectly valid reasons relating to freedom of expression”.