Labour's new Islamophobia blasphemy council is a threat to free speech as it could criminalise criticism of cousin marriage, grooming gangs etc Remember: 1. Islamophobia is not racist. Christianity isn't a race & neither is Islam 2. Islamophobia is an insidious term created to advance an Islamist agenda & silence opposition through the strategy of victimhood. We must stop using it. 3. Any "Islamophobia" law that stifles criticism of the religion and ideology of Islam is, quite simply, a blasphemy law How did we arrive in this chillingly dystopian world? The term "Islamophobia" was first popularised by the violent & extremist Muslim Brotherhood as "an ideological weapon to silence critics" of Islam and to "criminalise any criticism of their religious and political beliefs". The term was then (naively?) popularised in the UK by Trevor Phillips, who later lamented how it has been twisted, more often being used as a cudgel to silence dissent and free speech. Labour says "Islamophobia" is racist because most Muslims are non-white. This is absurd. The majority of communists in this world are Chinese. Is it racist to criticise communism? A majority of Catholics are non-white. Is criticism of Catholicism racist? This is the logic of such a risible argument. Sunni and Shia Muslims preach violent hatred towards each other. Are they guilty of "Islamophobia"? If not, why not? We must speak out and vehemently protest the criminalisation of a sinister term which conflates criticism of Islam with hatred of Muslims. "Islamophobia" should be expunged from our vocabulary. The correct phrase should by "anti-Muslim hatred", a hatred as abhorrent as anti-Semitism. It is a cornerstone of free speech to be able to criticize or attack any religion or ideology, including Islamic beliefs, practices and culture -- indeed, Mohammed himself. This is entirely different from hating members of the Muslim faith. The freedom to criticise both religion and ideology has rarely been more important than it is now -- but it has never been at greater risk. Labour is desperate to win back the Muslim vote that deserted Labour over its support for Israel in Gaza. The election of 5 "Muslim Vote" MPs has sent shock waves through the party. Consequently, as an act of appeasement, there will be huge pressure for the Council to define Islamophobia along lines that closely follows the All Party Parliamentary Group's ridiculously broad definition, which Labour has already adopted. Such a broad definition could criminalise legitimate criticism of cousin marriage, child marriage and even grooming gangs. Under Labour, free speech is being tested as never before. The oft-quoted definition of Islamophobia as “a word created by fascists, and used by cowards, to manipulate morons”, did not emanate from Christopher Hitchens (that honour belongs to Andrew Cummins). But Mr. Hitchens was no less vociferous in his strident condemnation of the term. Many years ago, with remarkable prescience, he correctly foresaw the sinister erosion of free speech we now see unfolding before us. Hear his prophetic words below and share them widely: