The Charity Commission stepped in after two separate addresses featured rhetoric that the watchdog classified as inflammatory and divisive. In October 2023, an imam denounced celebrities supporting Israel alongside oppressors of Palestine, while an August 2024 address alleged Zionists orchestrated recent UK far-right riots. Mosque leadership contends that expressing solidarity with Palestinians represents a core aspect of religious freedom rather than a regulatory offense. Consequently, the centre is taking legal advice to challenge the official reprimand and determine its future compliance posture.
Key points
Registered charities in the United Kingdom are legally prohibited from operating with pur…: Registered charities in the United Kingdom are legally prohibited from operating with purely political objectives.
The Lewisham Islamic Centre must establish a robust speakers policy or risk facing furthe…: The Lewisham Islamic Centre must establish a robust speakers policy or risk facing further formal regulatory actions.
Centre officials are seeking legal advice while calling on other Muslim organizations to…: Centre officials are seeking legal advice while calling on other Muslim organizations to resist the government regulator's sanctions.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
A mosque has been given an official warning by Britain's charity regulator after its imam discussed Palestinian "suffering at the hands of the oppressors and the Zionists" in a sermon.
The Lewisham Islamic Centre in south-east London said it was seeking legal advice "on the most appropriate course of action" after the Charity Commission issued it a warning for hosting what it called "inflammatory, divisive" sermons.
Imam Shakeel Begg gave a sermon in October 2023, during Israel's bombardment of Gaza, describing Palestinian "suffering at the hands of the oppressors and the Zionists".
He also called the celebrities Justin Bieber and Kylie Jenner "sick" for their vocal support of Israel.
The Islamic centre said in an official statement this week: "This is about more than one mosque or one charity.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
"It is about whether Muslim institutions can discharge their religious and charitable responsibilities without being penalised for expressing solidarity with Palestine, conducting established forms of Islamic worship, or…
Speaking at a forum in Sulaymaniyah, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leader Bafel Talabani urged the United States to abandon dismissive rhetoric and pursue direct dialogue with Tehran. The assessment follows Talabani's refusal to back an American-led plan to foment an internal insurgency against the Iranian government. His regional diplomatic push comes as Iraqi Kurdistan faces mounting defense vulnerabilities and unprecedented internal political fragmentation.
Woolwich Crown Court convicted Mostafa Sepahvand and Farhad Javadi Manesh of assisting Iran's intelligence service by plotting serious physical violence on British soil. The operation focused on tracking individuals seen as hostile to the Iranian regime, including London-based media figures and a prominent legal advocate. This prosecution highlights the severe security threats foreign intelligence operatives pose to independent broadcasters and diaspora figures in the United Kingdom.
Chinese officials are pushing back against American trade policy by challenging the national security justifications frequently cited by Washington. The diplomatic demand seeks to ease bilateral economic tensions surrounding market access for critical hardware and innovation. This push sets the stage for high-stakes leadership discussions aimed at navigating contentious geopolitical disputes.