Politics · United Kingdom · 15 hrs ago
London mosque challenges UK charity regulator’s warning over sermons
The UK Charity Commission warned Lewisham Islamic Centre over two sermons it said included inflammatory and divisive content.
The mosque is in south-east London, and the sermons were delivered in 2023 and 2024.
One sermon addressed Palestinian suffering, while another discussed the Southport riots and referred to Zionists and supporters of Israel.
The regulator said it found misconduct or mismanagement and told the centre to improve how it handles speakers and events.
The mosque says the warning threatens legitimate religious worship and could restrict what imams address in sermons.
It is seeking legal advice on what to do next, and the commission says further action may follow if the centre does not address the misconduct.
The Lewisham Islamic Centre in London has rejected a warning from the UK Charity Commission over two sermons it said were inflammatory and divisive.
The regulator said it found misconduct or mismanagement connected to events at the charity and told it to improve how it handles speakers and events.
The sermons were delivered in October 2023 and August 2024 and included comments about Zionists and Israel.
The centre said the warning was a troubling attempt to restrict legitimate religious worship and solidarity with Palestinians.
It is seeking legal advice on how to respond.
- Who
- The Lewisham Islamic Centre and the UK Charity Commission.
- What
- The centre is challenging a regulator’s warning over two sermons and says it is seeking legal advice.
- When
- The warning was issued on October 20; the sermons were delivered in October 2023 and August 2024.
- Where
- Lewisham Islamic Centre in south-east London, UK.
- Why
- The Commission found misconduct or mismanagement connected to sermons it said included inflammatory and divisive content. The centre says the warning restricts legitimate religious worship.
Lewisham Islamic Centre
UK Charity Commission
Nature of the sermons
Lewisham Islamic Centre
The centre says the regulator’s scrutiny threatens legitimate religious worship and solidarity with Palestinians.
UK Charity Commission
The Commission said two sermons included inflammatory, divisive content that was not in the charity’s best interests.
Regulatory action
Lewisham Islamic Centre
The centre rejects what it calls interference in religious worship and is seeking legal advice.
UK Charity Commission
The Commission issued a warning and told the centre to improve its handling of speakers and events.
Imam Shakeel Begg delivered a sermon referring to suffering at the hands of oppressors and Zionists.
Head imam Ashraf Dabous delivered a sermon about the Southport riots and referred to Zionists and supporters of Israel.
The Charity Commission issued a warning telling the centre to improve its handling of speakers and events.
The centre rejected the warning and said it was seeking legal advice.
- Charity
- Lewisham Islamic Centre
- Regulator
- UK Charity Commission
- Sermons cited
- October 2023 and August 2024
- Warning date
- October 20
- Location
- South-east London
3 sources
What people are saying
The matters raised by the Commission represent a troubling attempt to scrutinise, restrict and penalise legitimate religious worship
After assessing the evidence related to these and other events held at the charity, the regulator made a finding of misconduct and/or mismanagement
The Commission’s position treats the word ‘Zionist’ as inflammatory in itself