At the meeting of full Council a Notice of Motion relating to the Adoption of the Government’s definition of anti-Muslim hostility was agreed with cross-part support.
The motion was proposed by Cllr Shelley Powell and seconded by Cllr Graham Morgan.
Cllr Powell explained:
“This Council has a strong and consistent record of standing against prejudice, discrimination and hate in all its forms. We have previously made it clear that we believe everyone is equal irrespective of their ethnicity, race or religion, and we have backed that commitment with practical action.
“At its heart, this motion is about ensuring that our approach remains current, consistent and aligned with national guidance.
“The Government’s definition recognises that anti-Muslim hostility does not only affect practising Muslims. It can also affect people who are perceived to be Muslim because of their ethnicity, appearance, cultural background or name.
“The definition also recognises that anti-Muslim hostility can take many forms. It can be criminal and overt, including violence, vandalism, intimidation or harassment. It can also be expressed through harmful stereotyping, discrimination or efforts to exclude people from full participation in public and economic life.
“Importantly, this motion is not about restricting legitimate debate or criticism. The accompanying text makes that absolutely clear.
“The text, included in the motion, clarifies that people remain free to criticise religions, including Islam. They remain free to debate religious beliefs and practices, to raise concerns in the public interest and to participate fully in political debate.”
Cllr Powell added:
“As elected members, we have a responsibility to foster an environment in which everyone feels safe, respected and valued. That includes ensuring that all our residents, regardless of faith or background, know that discrimination and hatred have no place in our borough.
“By adopting this definition, we are reaffirming a principle that has guided this Council for many years: that prejudice against any community is unacceptable and that clear definitions can help public bodies identify, challenge and prevent such behaviour.”