A fierce exchange erupted on GB News as Labour councillor Sebastian Salek defended Government proposals for an official Islamophobia definition against sharp criticism from political commentator Alex Deane.
The confrontation highlighted deep divisions over Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s initiative to establish formal guidelines on anti-Muslim discrimination.
Mr Salek insisted the measure would help identify discrimination faced by Muslims across Britain.
“Clearly there is an issue and Muslims are suffering abuse they should not be suffering in this country,” he stated during Dewbs & Co.
Alex Deane clashed with Sebastian Salek on GB News
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GB NEWS
Mr Deane countered forcefully, warning the proposals risked creating accidental blasphemy legislation.
“Muslims don’t need special treatment. There’s a chance we get a blasphemy law for one faith alone by accident,” he argued.
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The dispute reflects broader tensions surrounding the Government’s consultation process on defining Islamophobia.
The debate intensified when Mr Deane highlighted potential contradictions between the proposed definition and investigations into child sexual exploitation.
Labour has been warned Britain ‘faces social unrest’ if they pursue Islamophobia definition
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PA
He pointed out that Labour had previously endorsed a 2018 definition that would classify terms like “Asian grooming gangs” as discriminatory.
“This Government has commissioned a review that says the issue of child sexual abuse by ethnic groups is important, but is also signing up to a definition of Islamophobia that says, ‘you can’t’,” Mr Deane explained, referencing the Casey Review’s findings about police overlooking racial factors in abuse cases.
Mr Salek maintained the proposals aimed solely at education rather than legal restrictions. “We’re not talking about changing the law or limiting what people can say, it’s about raising awareness of the ways Muslims sadly suffer discrimination in this country,” he responded.
The Government’s efforts to develop this definition have encountered significant obstacles. Ms Rayner was compelled to postpone the initiative after Conservative campaigners flooded officials with thousands of critical submissions.
Whether or not Britain needs an Islamophobia definition was discussed on GB News
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GB NEWS
The Deputy Prime Minister had established an advisory group last spring to formulate recommendations on appropriate terminology for addressing discrimination against Muslims.
Critics condemned the administration’s attempt to restrict public participation by distributing consultation documents to a select few organisations.
Prominent voices within anti-discrimination circles have expressed reservations. Fiyaz Mughal, who established Tell Mama, cautioned that formal definitions might exacerbate social tensions and reinforce perceptions of preferential treatment.
“It will raise community tensions and it will just add to the narrative that actually one community is getting a better deal than another. And that just leads to local anger,” Mr Mughal told The Times.
The exchange grew more pointed when GB News presenter Dawn Neesom questioned the necessity of legislation.
Mr Salek drew parallels with existing protections, stating: “We rightly have a definition of antisemitism in this country and we need some parity with Islamophobia as well.”
When challenged about opposition from Tell MAMA, Mr Salek dismissed concerns. “They are in a minority on this. The Muslim Council of Britain says it’s good, the Islamophobia Response Unit agrees and many other Muslim charities do as well,” he maintained.
Mr Deane rejected comparisons between different forms of discrimination. “I would prefer for us not to have one for any of them. If we are going down this path, why one just for this Islamic situation? Not other mainstream faiths?” he questioned.
