The Scottish Government and political parties have been urged to formally adopt a definition of Islamophobia.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi and Wes Streeting MP from Westminster’s All-Party Group (APPG) on British Muslims visited the Scottish Parliament today to meet political leaders to argue for the working definition to be adopted.

The definition was produced after months of consultation, and Anas Sarwar MSP submitted evidence on behalf of Holyrood’s Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Tackling Islamophobia.

It classifies discrimination against Muslims as a form of racism, and reads: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.”

To date, the definition has been adopted by the UK Labour Party, the UK Liberal Democrats, the SNP Westminster Group, Plaid Cymru, and several English local authorities – as well as many organisations including the Muslim Council of Britain. Last month, it was adopted in London City Hall by Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The APPG delegation is scheduled to meet with Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government Aileen Campbell, Scottish Conservatives interim leader Jackson Carlaw, Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie and Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, former co-chair of the Conservative Party and Officer of the APPG on British Muslims said:, “I welcome the invitation by the Cross-Party Group on Tackling Islamophobia to present our definition of Islamophobia in the Scottish Parliament.

“It has been great to see all the political parties in Westminster bar the Conservatives adopt the APPG on British Muslims definition of Islamophobia including the SNP’s Westminster group.

“We now call upon all parties in the Scottish Parliament and Government to formally adopt a definition of Islamophobia framed by parliamentarians, endorsed by academics and rooted in British Muslims communities.”

Wes Streeting MP, chair of the APPG on British Muslims, said, “The APPG on British Muslims definition has been widely accepted by Muslim communities across the UK, political parties in Westminster, cities such as London and Birmingham and now we call on the Scottish Government to adopt it too.

“The APPG definition was informed by many Scottish Muslim organisations and endorsed by many more. We hope the Scottish Government will formally adopt our definition of Islamophobia to reinforce the commitment to tackling Islamophobia in all its forms.”

Anas Sarwar MSP, chair of the Cross-Party Group on Tackling Islamophobia, said, “A failure to define Islamophobia risks allowing those with ill-intent to define it for us.

“With racism on the rise in Britain and across the world, it is the responsibility of all political parties and public bodies to ensure we do everything we can to promote a more tolerant and inclusive society.

“Adopting the definition of Islamophobia in Scotland will help demonstrate to our diverse communities that we as lawmakers recognise Islamophobia exists, and that it will always be challenged.

“We can’t leave the fight against prejudice and hate to the Muslim community alone – it’s a fight for all of us.”