Cross added that a new, state-endorsed definition of ‘Islamophobia’ could also be used to rewrite hate crime and harassment laws. The conflation of the two categories of ‘Islam’ and ‘Muslims’ could have disastrous outcomesHis misgivings are well-founded. Despite being interrelated, the conflation of the two categories of ‘Islam’ and ‘Muslims’ could have disastrous outcomes. The word ‘perceived’ is all-important here, and it’s no coincidence that it also appears in the original definition of ‘Islamophobia’. Adding further force to that misleading neologism ‘Islamophobia’ by codifying it will only make the pursuit of justice more difficult still.