London mosque considers legal response to charity warning over sermons
The Lewisham Islamic Centre is seeking legal advice after Britain's charity regulator warned it over two sermons concerning Zionists and Israel.
By Vanessa Lopez ·
A mosque in south-east London is considering its legal options after receiving an official warning from Britain's Charity Commission over two sermons. The Lewisham Islamic Centre disputes the regulator's intervention, saying the case raises broader questions about Muslim institutions' ability to carry out their religious and charitable responsibilities while expressing solidarity with Palestinians.
The commission described material in the sermons as inflammatory and divisive, saying it was contrary to the charity's interests. It warned that further regulatory measures could follow unless the centre acted on its recommendations. Those include protecting the organisation's reputation and reviewing and applying an appropriate policy covering events and every speaker who appears at the charity.
One of the sermons was delivered by Imam Shakeel Begg in October 2023, during Israel's bombardment of Gaza. He spoke about Palestinian suffering, attributing it to oppressors and Zionists. Begg also criticised celebrities Justin Bieber and Kylie Jenner over their public support for Israel, describing them as "sick".
The other sermon, given in August 2024 by Imam Ashraf Dabous, addressed the far-right violence against Muslims and ethnic minorities that summer. Dabous claimed that those manipulating the rioters were Zionists and supporters of Israel. Separately, members of Israel's government have promoted British anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
In a statement issued this week, the Islamic centre said it was obtaining legal advice about how to respond. It argued that the dispute extended beyond its own institution and concerned whether Muslim charities could fulfil their duties without facing penalties for supporting Palestine or practising established forms of Islamic worship.
The centre said those duties included responding to matters of concern to worshippers. It cited opposition to Zionism and denunciations of the Israeli state over war crimes and genocide as issues it believed institutions should be able to address. It also maintained that solidarity with oppressed people should not provide grounds for sanctions against a charity.
Should it pursue legal proceedings, the centre said it would encourage others to join a collective challenge to the commission in defence of religious freedom. British charity law bars organisations whose purposes are political from qualifying as charities. The regulator's warning also requires the centre to ensure that activities conducted by, or connected with, the charity do not expose its reputation to unnecessary damage.
