‘Clear difference defining antisemitism and agreeing on Islamophobia,’ says Tory MP

A Conservative MP has insisted that there are clear differences between defining antisemitism and efforts by politicians to agree on a definition of Islamophobia.

Speaking at a Policy Exchange event, Nick Timothy highlighted what he described as the most obvious distinction: antisemitism, “or discrimination and hatred directed toward Jews, is not just about religious beliefs – it’s about ethnic identity.”

He argued that, in the case of Islam, the focus is “a system of belief,” adding, “I don’t think you can have rules in place, even laws in place, to protect people’s beliefs.”

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The front-bench Tory MP, who has tabled a bill aimed at protecting free speech and the right to criticize religions, has long expressed opposition to government attempts to introduce a definition of “Islamophobia” mirroring the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

Timothy has also repeatedly warned of threats posed to the community by extremist Islamist ideology, referencing the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation terror attack during his remarks on Monday.

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He also emphasised the importance of allowing discussion and criticism of extreme interpretations of Islamic Hadiths, citing claims regarding a text that “tells Muslims that they should kill the Jews before judgement day.”

“There are many Islamic scholars who say these are not legitimate,” Timothy said. “But by suppressing any discussion of that, we’re not helping them to win that argument within Islam.”

In a pre-released section of his speech, Timothy also criticized the role played by community activists and an independent pro-Gaza MP in Birmingham for “whipping up” anger over next month’s Maccabi Tel Aviv football match.

“Whipped up by local activists and even their local MP, thousands of people in Birmingham made their hostility to Jewish-Israeli football fans clear,” he said.

“The threat of violence was unmistakable. And instead of declaring that this is unacceptable—saying the police would do whatever it takes to make the city a safe place for Jews—West Midlands Police surrendered to the thugs and the Islamists, insisting that Jewish-Israeli fans should be banned from attending the game.”

He continued: “Once the mob knows it gets what it wants with the threat of violence, more threats will follow, and the more the mob will get. Moreover, members of other ethnic and religious groups may turn to similar tactics.”

Timothy also questioned the sincerity of Community Secretary Steve Reed’s claim that he does not support an Islamophobia definition.

“One of the reasons I’m nervous about that is that Steve Reed himself endorsed the 2018 APPG definition of Islamophobia and wrote to Labour councils saying they had to sign up to it,” Timothy said.

He argued that this definition follows much of the “same logic” as current attempts to establish a new definition of Islamophobia.

Downing Street said there was no update on how this attempt was progressing, with suggests that any definition would now stick to defining “anti-Muslim hate.”