Overview

• Britain’s Network of Sikh Organisations sent a pre‑action letter on September 19 and is preparing a judicial review if ministers proceed with an official Islamophobia definition.
• The NSO argues a definition would be discriminatory under Article 14 of the ECHR and would impede Sikhs’ ability to manifest their beliefs, citing objections to halal meat and recounting Sikh history.
• An independent working group chaired by former attorney-general Dominic Grieve was tasked this year with proposing a non‑statutory definition, with recommendations due to Communities Secretary Steve Reed.
• Reed has said protecting free speech is paramount and rejected any return to blasphemy laws, as the government reiterated no decision has been made and no definition that discriminates will be accepted.
• Officials cite rising anti‑Muslim hate crime, including data that two in five recorded religious hate offenses target Muslims, while some Hindu groups join the NSO in calling for broader, inclusive protections.