The Lewisham Islamic Centre in London has rejected a Charity Commission warning over comments about Palestinian suffering made during two sermons in October 2023, saying the regulator is placing disproportionate demands on Muslim charities.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the mosque described the commission’s actions as an attempt to restrict legitimate religious worship and expressions of solidarity with Palestinians, Al Jazeera reported.

The dispute follows an official warning issued by the United Kingdom’s independent charity watchdog on October 20. The commission said the sermons contained material that was “inflammatory, divisive and not in the charity’s best interests.” It urged the centre to improve its handling of speakers and events held on its premises.

The regulator also warned that the mosque could face further action if it failed to “remedy the misconduct,” according to Al Jazeera’s account.

The centre disputed the expectations behind the warning, calling them “unnecessarily burdensome.” It said a sermon, or khutbah, is an integral part of Islamic worship and often addresses matters affecting the wellbeing of congregations and their communities.

The mosque expressed concern that the warning suggested the commission was “entitled to dictate which subjects Imams may address in their khutbahs.” It said it was seeking legal advice on how to proceed.

CAGE International, a London-based human rights organisation, backed the centre on Thursday and accused the commission of treating pro-Israel charities more leniently. That allegation was made by the organisation, not established independently in the supplied reporting.

CAGE also argued that the regulator’s position treated the word “Zionist” as inherently inflammatory, conflating opposition to a political ideology with hatred of a people.

A spokesperson linked the dispute to a recent government consultation on expanding the commission’s powers, including the ability to remove trustees over their views. CAGE contended that the warning placed Muslim religious expression under suspicion.

Sources