In a concerning move on 28 January, Oxford City Council voted to adopt the All-Party Parliamentary Group definition of Islamophobia.
Oxford is the third council to use this definition which includes vague and ambiguous criteria. Some groups suggest that it should always be possible to critique and criticise ideas, even though this may hurt people’s feelings. But any other kind of hurt to people because of what they believe should never be tolerated. Therefore, ‘Muslimophobia’ is a preferable term to use. People (e.g. Muslims, Christians) should always be protected; ideas and ideologies (e.g. Islam, Christianity) should not be.
