The Charity Commission has issued an Official Warning to the Islamic Centre of England Ltd (registered charity 1058998) as it found the trustees failed to discharge their legal duties towards the charity, which has resulted in misconduct and/or mismanagement.

The charity was set up to advance the religion of Islam and education among the Muslim community and operates in London.

On 3 January 2020 the trustees allowed a candlelit vigil to be held at the charity’s West London premises in response to the death of the Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. Soleimani has been subject to financial sanctions by HM Treasury for terrorism and/or terrorist financing since 17 October 2011 following a designation under the Terrorist Asset Freezing Etc Act 2010.

The event risked associating the charity with a speaker who may have committed an offence under the Terrorism Acts, as the speaker was filmed during the event appearing to praise and call for support for Soleimani. The trustees failed to intervene or provide a counter narrative.

The following day the trustees organised a further event for Soleimani and published statements on the charity’s website offering condolence and praise for him.

The trustees clearly failed to take account of regulatory advice and guidance issued by the Commission in January 2015 regarding the hosting of public events and the selection of speakers. They also put the charity’s reputation at risk.

As a result, the regulator has exercised its power under section 75A of the Charities Act 2011 to issue an Official Warning to the charity. This requires the trustees to take specific steps to review content on the charity’s website and ensure appropriate consideration is given and risk assessments conducted for any future events held at the charity’s premises.

Tim Hopkins, Assistant Director of Investigations and Inquiries at the Charity Commission said:

Through their actions the trustees have failed in their legal duties towards this charity, putting its reputation at risk. Any charity being associated with terrorism is completely unacceptable and we are concerned by the corrosive effect this might have on public confidence in this and other charities.

Charities exist to improve lives and strengthen society, so it is vital that trustees honour their responsibility to act in the best interests of their charity at all times. We expect the charity’s trustees to comply with the required actions to address our concerns.

The Official Warning is published here. The Commission has an ongoing regulatory case into the Islamic Centre of England Ltd.

Failure to comply with the actions set out in the Official Warning may lead to further regulatory action being taken by the regulator as part of its ongoing case.

Ends.

Notes to editors:

1. The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its purpose is to ensure charity can thrive and inspire trust so that people can improve lives and strengthen society.

Members of Parliament are to be asked to agree changes to Commons rules next week which remove their ability to determine the sanctions faced by MPs in cases of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment.

A motion tabled for debate on Tuesday 23 June will establish an Independent Expert Panel empowered to determine the appropriate sanction in cases referred to it under the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS).

The changes bring about a fundamental break with the past in which sanctions were determined through the Committee on Standards, comprising Members of Parliament and lay members.

Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg said:

This is an historic moment for Parliament. It is absolutely right that the process of handling complaints against MPs has been taken away from a parliamentary committee and handed to an entirely independent panel of experts.

We have now acted on all three of Dame Laura Cox’s recommendations but there remains more we can do – which is why I will be keeping up the momentum for further cultural change in Parliament.

I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure that everyone working in Westminster is treated courteously and with respect.

The most severe sanctions imposed by the Independent Expert Panel, including suspension and expulsion, will require the formal authorisation of the House of Commons.

In response to concerns that the findings of the Independent Expert Panel could be reopened or questioned by MPs, the Leader of the House is seeking an additional change to the Commons’ rules on proceedings.

This change would prevent the name of the complainant and details of the investigation from being disclosed in the debate. MPs would not be able to call into question the determination of the panel’s sanctions.

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak participated in a call with the Finance Ministers of the Five Eyes nations – Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States – to discuss the economic impact of COVID-19.

The Ministers shared updates on policy responses currently in place and discussed strategies to accelerate economic activity, in line with necessary health and safety measures as our economies reopen.

They agreed to remain in regular contact as a group and will continue to work together to support a strong and sustained economic recovery.