LONDON, November 25 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The British government has disclosed plans to enact new laws penalizing religious discrimination, a move welcomed by Muslims as a measure to halt a rising wave of Islamophobia in the European country.

The plans also include creating a Commission for Equality and Human Rights to end an anomaly which offers protection to Jews and Sikhs under race legislation but not to Christians, Muslims, Buddhists or followers of other religions, Reuters said in a report published on Tuesday, November 23.

“Discrimination, in whatever form, is wholly unacceptable and the government is determined to tackle it,” the Home Office said of the plans, outlined in parliament.

At present, law protects people on the basis of their color, race or ethnic origin but not their religion.

The plans were welcomed by religious communities, particularly Muslims who complain about a surge in abuse since the 9/11 attacks and the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), one of the leading Muslim organizations in the country, welcomed the new plans.

“In the interest of fairness, equality and justice, we have every expectation that the new legislation on religious discrimination will cover ‘harassment’ and ‘public functions’ in the same way as currently covered for race,” said Iqbal Sacranie, MCB’s Secretary-General.

The group said it would assess the details of the new provisions on religious discrimination and incitement to religious hatred against the clear and unequivocal commitment made by Prime Minister Tony Blair at the last Labour Party Conference.

Blair pledged to “change the law to make religious discrimination unlawful…as with race, gender and disability.”

The MCB also welcomed the creation of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights.

“The new Commission will hopefully provide the required institutional support for a future Britain where all citizens, including British Muslims, can benefit from maximum equality of opportunity and are able to fulfill their full potential,” it said in a statement.

The government has admitted that Muslims suffer from “a consistently higher level of unfair treatment than ... most other religious groups.”

of British Muslims reported experiencing acts of discrimination and Islamophobia.

Citing a new study, the paper added that various forms of Islamophobia and racial discrimination are alienating the sizable community in the country.

Some analysts said the Labour Party is trying to woo Muslim voters, many of whom have turned their backs on the ruling party over the Iraq war.

The coming general elections are due next year.

The constituency has a large Muslim population and the stinging defeat of the Labour came after vigorous campaigns by Muslim groups asking voters to cast their ballots against the pro-Iraq war party.

Still, politicians have warned that the latest proposals face a tough ride through parliament due to civil liberties concerns and overlaps with other laws, according to Reuters.

The government had earlier tired to introduce laws outlawing religious discrimination in 2001, when it drafted sweeping new anti-terrorism legislation.

But the House of Lords blocked the proposals, objecting to their status as an add-on to the anti-terror bill.