A mosque in Lewisham has accused a charity watchdog of imposing disproportionate expectations on Muslim charities after it issued a warning connected to comments about the conflict in Palestine, with the Islamic centre arguing that the step risked deepening mistrust of mainstream Muslim organisations and deterring people from speaking out on the issue.
What we know
The Lewisham Islamic Centre accused the charity watchdog of imposing disproportionate expectations on Muslim charities following a warning linked to comments about the conflict in Palestine. The centre said the warning was issued in the context of the wider dispute and argued that the watchdog’s approach was disproportionate. Al Jazeera reported that the controversy centres on the charity watchdog’s intervention in a matter connected to Palestine comments. The watchdog had not, at the point of reporting, released full details of the warning or the grounds on which it was issued, and declined to comment on individual cases. The centre said the warning risked discouraging Muslim charities from raising legitimate concerns. It said Muslim charities play an important role in supporting vulnerable communities across London, and warned that a warning of this kind could have a chilling effect on their work.
Why it matters
The dispute is likely to be watched by Muslim charities across the United Kingdom, which have repeatedly said they face scrutiny from regulators and that they are often judged by standards applied unevenly to charities from minority communities. The Charity Commission has periodically warned about the volume of applications it receives and the complexity of the registration process, and the row is likely to be noted by charities of all faiths, not only those in Muslim communities. The controversy is also part of a highly charged public debate in Britain about how the conflict in Palestine is discussed, with some Muslim groups saying they are silenced when they speak about it, and some Jewish organisations concerned about hatred. The commission has repeatedly said that it will act where charities breach rules on political activity, and the outcome is likely to be scrutinised by campaigners on both sides.
What happens next
The Lewisham Islamic Centre said it would be considering its next steps after the warning was issued, while the charity watchdog had not, at the point of reporting, offered to meet the centre to discuss the matter. Either side could issue further statements as the row develops, and the Charity Commission’s handling of the case is likely to be scrutinised by campaigners on both sides of the debate. Further statements are expected from the Charity Commission, which is likely to consider whether to take any further action in the matter. The centre has said it will respond to the warning in due course, and its response is likely to be shaped by the commission’s own position. Members of the public who are affected by the issues raised are advised to contact the relevant charity commission or the mosque directly for guidance. The watchdog has indicated that it will seek to ensure that any action it takes is proportionate and consistent with its wider work to support the responsible operation of charities.
We do not allow links of any sort in comments. No SPAM whatsoever. On topic comments only.