Leeds City Council’s adoption of a specific definition for anti-Muslim prejudice has been hailed as “big step in the right direction”.

The Labour-run local authority has followed neighbours Bradford in adopting a definition, in the hope it will aid the fight against hatred and discrimination towards Muslims in the city.

A report published last week showed nearly half of Muslims in Leeds don’t feel treated as equal citizens.

Two-thirds of those who’ve experienced Islamophobic abuse and attacks didn’t report it, with some citing fear of repercussions and a lack of faith in the police.

Speaking at a meeting of Leeds’ council executive board, the city’s two most senior Muslim councillors backed the definition being written into policy.

Councillor Mohammed Rafique said: “Given the rising hate crime against Muslims, and in particular against some of the most vulnerable members of the community, this is welcomed.

“I hope this is one big step in the right direction. Obviously there’s a lot more work still to be done.”

The council has used the term ‘anti-Muslim prejudice’, instead of Islamophobia, in an effort to incorporate all forms of racism towards Muslims.

Councillor Salma Arif said the report detailing the extent of hatred towards the community was “sobering to read.”

She added: “But I’m afraid it’s not entirely surprising as someone who comes from a Muslim faith.

“I know a lot off Muslims in the city will welcome the adoption of this definition.”

The new policy received cross-party support from opposition groups.

The leader of the council’s Liberal Democrat group, Stewart Golton said: “Reading some of the statistics in the survey was worrying, because you’d like to have thought some of the problems mentioned here weren’t there anymore, but they are.”

Conservative councillor Ryan Stephenson said: “One would hope you’d never need a policy like this, but sadly we do.

“I suppose you would want one policy that covers all forms of racism and discrimination, but the nature of discourse in the extremes today is you can’t.

“So I guess the next stage of this is to also look at other faiths as well and look at how we can address some of the racism towards, for example, Hindu and Sikh communities in the city.”