Nov 12, 9:01 PM
London Mosque Rejects Regulator's Warning Over Palestinian Sermons
Lewisham Islamic Centre challenges Charity Commission reprimand as legal advice is sought
The Lewisham Islamic Centre in London has rejected an official warning from the Charity Commission of England and Wales concerning sermons delivered in October 2023 about Palestinian suffering. The mosque stated in an official release on Wednesday that the watchdog's intervention represents an attempt to restrict legitimate religious worship and solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The regulator issued its reprimand on October 20, asserting that two separate sermons hosted at the centre included content that was inflammatory, divisive, and contrary to the charity's best interests. The commission directed the organisation to improve its management of speakers and events held on its premises, adding that a failure to remedy the identified misconduct could lead to further enforcement measures.
In its statement, the religious centre argued that the commission was imposing disproportionate and unnecessarily burdensome requirements on Muslim charities. The mosque emphasized that the Friday sermon, or khutbah, is an integral element of Islamic worship intended to address matters affecting the well-being of the congregation, expressing concern that the regulator was seeking to dictate which topics imams are permitted to address. The centre confirmed it is currently seeking legal advice regarding potential next steps.
London-based human rights organisation CAGE International voiced support for the mosque on Thursday, claiming the Charity Commission applies unequal scrutiny by treating pro-Israel charities with greater lenience. The organisation stated that the regulator's position improperly treats opposition to a political ideology as hatred of a people, placing Muslim religious expression under suspicion by default. CAGE International also pointed to an ongoing government consultation regarding potential new powers that would allow the Charity Commission to remove trustees based on their expressed views.
Written by Christiane Hofreiter christiane.hofreiter@alpineweekly.com
