1. Will the Welsh Government make a statement on the impact that the UK Government's rejection of the definition of Islamophobia has had on community cohesion? 315

At the faith communities forum this morning, the First Minister highlighted the Welsh Government's consideration of the definition of Islamophobia. We're in discussions with Scottish Government, with a view to adopting the definition. Those of us in positions of power need to stand up for people being stigmatised or abused. 

I'm sure that you share my disappointment at the failure of the Tories in Westminster to sign up to that definition, which is based on the United Nation's definition of racial discrimination and the Runnymede definition. I wonder if it's got anything to do with a certain leadership hopeful and his disparaging remarks against Muslims, with comments about women looking like letterboxes as just one example of that individual's intolerance.

You may also want to congratulate the young Welsh people featured in the BBC programme, Young, Welsh and Pretty Religious, and in particular, the work of anti-Islamophobia activist, Sahar Al-Faifi, who has endured plenty of abuse and threats for speaking out about the need for this definition of Islamophobia, not least just last week from notorious far-right social media commentators.

Plaid Cymru as a party has signed up to recognising this definition of Islamophobia, and I welcome the statement that you've just given, Minister, about the Welsh Government being prepared to consider this as well. Will you congratulate Sahar and the others tackling racism and Islamophobia and give an undertaking to give protection to people of colour and of religion when they face daily undermining, discrimination or abuse? And will you also join me in condemning those people who peddle the hateful, dog-whistle politics that leads to such acts? 

I thank Leanne Wood for bringing this question to enable us to be very clear about our position. The Welsh Government is unequivocally opposed to Islamophobia and all forms of religious hate crime. It is back to our positions of power that we must take responsibility.

It's sad in a way, in terms of the situation that emerged in terms of the UK Government, because in fact it was an all-party parliamentary group that brought together a report, bringing forward a definition of Islamophobia. So, I hope that the UK Government will come to accept this definition. It is a non-legally binding, working definition of Islamophobia that's been rejected by the UK Government at this stage, but it has been adopted by the Labour Party, I understand, the Liberal Democrats, and the Scottish Conservative Party. So, it's clearly being debated by political groupings. I understand that the inquiry was by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims, who held this inquiry in several cities in England, where they heard about a range of Islamophobic experiences, including physical and verbal abuse.

What is clear is that we have to now look to our responsibilities in Wales. I was very saddened to hear about Sahar's experience because I think she is one of nine young believers who are highlighting their lives on that BBC Wales programme, Young, Welsh and Pretty Religious. That's not the Wales that we want young Muslims or anyone of any faith to experience.

I think the concerns are being now—they were discussed this morning in our faith communities forum, and we looked at ways in which we're addressing hate crime. It's interesting, in terms of online abuse, that Cardiff University are working with the Welsh Government and the police to look at ways we can detect hate crime and online abuse on social media, which will need different kinds of reporting mechanisms, because this is part of our tackling hate crime programme. In terms of comments that are made—I don't really wish to give them more airtime, in terms of the Boris Johnson comments, but I think what's very important is that it was the equalities watchdog, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, who branded Boris Johnson's comments on the burka as inflammatory and divisive.

Can I join you and others in this Chamber in condemning utterly Islamophobia of any kind and religious intolerance of any kind? Because it is pervasive, unfortunately, in our society, and it's happening; we see it, and it's completely unacceptable. I think the one issue that we do need to reflect on with this particular definition is that, of course, it's not been widely adopted as yet, and I think there is contention over whether another working definition might be a better definition for public sector bodies and Governments to be able to work to. Can I put on record that we do not yet have a position as Welsh Conservatives on this issue, but we are actively considering the all-party group's proposal? I'm not saying that we're going to reject it or accept it at this time, but I do think that it needs further thought, simply because of the number of voices, the chorus of voices, that there have been raising concerns about the potential implications of the application of this as a working definition. And I say that because, of course, we all know that the working definition of anti-semitism that was put forward by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance has been widely adopted without issue, apart from, of course, the Labour Party at the time, which simply took a longer time to be able to adopt it. So, do you have any concerns? What would your response be to those who have raised concerns about the potential implications for their working practices should this particular definition be adopted? Because, as I understand it, there were over 40 individuals who co-signed the letter, including academics, writers, campaigners against religious intolerance, Muslims themselves, who wrote to the Home Secretary to say that this particular definition—whilst they condemned Islamophobia of any kind, this particular definition was unfit for purpose, and that its hasty adoption could lead to an aggravation of community tensions, not a reduction in them.

I thank Darren Millar for raising your support and the fact that your group is going to consider this definition. I did say in response to the question that we are working on this with colleagues in the Scottish Government, because I think this is something where we are taking responsibility. But we, very fortunately, have got a faith communities forum here in Wales, and it's good that today, this morning, we had representation from not just Muslims—we had Sikh, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Bahá’í, Catholic Church, Church in Wales, Churches Together; we had everyone around the table, chaired by the First Minister and myself, where we were discussing these issues. And we had discussion about hate crime, and hate crime is racist, but it's also crime that is reflected in terms of faith and religion, and, of course, unlawful under the Equality Act 2010.

So, we do need to look at this definition of Islamophobia. We have to be very clear that we are addressing this, as we are very clear in the way that we're addressing anti-semitism. So, it's the Government that has to stand up and make this point, and I'm grateful again, as I said, that Leanne Wood has given us the opportunity to respond today. It is something that we are standing up for and we need to take forward. 

I thank Leanne Wood for raising the issue and also for Darren Millar's contributions. It seems to me that the UK Government's timing is unfortunate in the context of attempts by the far right to whip up hatred of difference at this time. And, therefore, I'm not taking a position on the wording; it's just that we have to be mindful that our words can have an impact beyond this house. And I think it's really important to realise just how seriously Muslims take their religion at this important time of Ramadan. Having visited several mosques to help assist in the breaking of fast at sunset, I've been so impressed by the adherence of Muslims to their faith, as well as their commitment to give charitably to good causes. So, for example, there's twice been a sharing of food in front of City Hall in Cardiff with the homeless community, and providing them with goods as well as food. So, I just think that we need to ensure that we promote the respect for difference, and celebrate the richness and diversity of the culture and the religions that we have in Wales.

Thank you, Jenny Rathbone, and our First Minister this morning spoke of the Iftar outside City Hall, which he attended on Sunday night. He spoke of the importance of Ramadan this week and of the contribution made by the Muslim community. This is a time when we're marking 20 years of devolution. On Monday night, some of us were at a lecture given by Aled Edwards, who is a pioneering—and I know that there were many here at that lecture—who's had such an impact in terms of developing this inter-faith dialogue. And he—. But we did say, and, in fact, I said in response to him that, unfortunately—his lecture, which was very inspiring—we have a noise of bigotry, racism, hate speech and extremism that is very loud just now. And the First Minister talked about the threat of the extremism that we see now from the right, because that now is an extremism that the police are now engaged with. So, we want to make sure that people in Wales recognise that we have those values that we've upheld of community, fairness, hope and compassion, and that's why we are a nation of sanctuary—recognised, I have to say, only recently by NBC News, who said, 'Thank goodness, Wales is a nation of sanctuary'—a message from the United States.

I'm grateful to Leanne, Darren, Jenny and the Minister also, at least understanding this is an Islamaphobia problem. Minister, a diverse range of 44 campaigners—academics, writers and other public figures—have signed an open letter criticising this, and I quote, ‘uncritical and hasty adoption' of this proposed definition of Islamaphobia. They went on to say that the definition was, quote,

'being taken on without an adequate scrutiny or proper consideration of its negative consequences for freedom of expression, and academic or journalistic freedom.'

Quote closed. Adoption of this definition would—quote again—'aggravate community tensions' and

'inhibit free speech about matters of fundamental importance.'

Quote closed. Signatories of this letter include people of all religion and none, such as Professor Richard Dawkins, Peter Tatchell, the LGBT leader, the Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Alton, Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, and the founder of Quilliam International, Maajid Nawaz. They are all dignitaries and very important people who talk about public relations globally.

The chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council said that the adoption of this definition—

Could you ask a question, please?

—could hinder counter-terrorism efforts. Does the Deputy Minister recognise that adoption of this vague and extensive definition without adequate scrutiny or proper consideration of its negative consequences will undermine social cohesion and fuel the very bigotry against Muslims that it's designed to prevent? Thank you.

Well, Mohammed Asghar, I think Darren Millar has said that you will consider this definition in your—Welsh Conservatives will consider it, which I'm grateful for. We're considering—the Welsh Government is considering—it, with the Scottish Government. So, this consideration obviously will take into account points that have been made in terms of operational issues. But I would hope that we could finish this debate, in terms of response to this important question today, by uniting across this Chamber, as we did a few weeks ago, when we worked together and struck a motion, supported by the three main parties in this Assembly, to wholeheartedly root out racism and racist ideology and strive towards a more equal Wales, tackling all forms of racial inequality. And I know that that's what I feel is the message we would want to take from this afternoon—we, together, and not just the Welsh Government, are unequivocally opposed to Islamaphobia and all forms of religious hate crime.

Thank you very much.