Regulator told group accused of antisemitism to register as charity

The Charity Commission told an Islamic youth trust to register as a charity despite it being accused of antisemitism.

In December 2021, Cricklewood Muslim Youth Trust (CMYT) tweeted an image warning Muslims to "Keep away from the enemies of Allaah [sic] the Jews & Christians". CMYT was not a registered charity at the time but described itself as a "charitable trust".

The Campaign Against Antisemitism lodged a complaint with the Charity Commission regarding the tweet. In response, the Charity Commission informed CMYT of its "requirement to register as a charity and about compliance with the legal duties of trustees".

CMYT then registered as a charity in January 2023, with its charitable object listed as "to advance the Muslim religion". The "advancement of religion" is a recognised charitable purpose in law.

The National Secular Society submitted a freedom of information request asking the Charity Commission whether it had known about the CMYT's antisemitism prior to it registering as a charity.

The Charity Commission initially refused to answer and only released the information when the NSS escalated the case to the information watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office. Justifying its initial refusal, the Charity Commission said releasing the information could "lead to negative perceptions of charities".

By law, a charity's purposes must serve the public benefit. Additionally, under Charity Commission guidance, a charity's name, premises or money "must not be used to promote extremist or other activities that are inappropriate under charity law". This includes hatred on the grounds of race or religion.

On its Facebook page, CMYT describes itself as an "Islamic bookshop and information centre". Its charity registration entry specifies its objects are "to advance the Muslim religion in Camden and surrounding areas for the benefit of the public, through the holding of prayer meetings, lectures and public celebration of religious festivals and in such other ways as the trustees see fit, to enlighten others about the Muslim religion".

Charity's YouTube account says debate, free society and democracy "are all prohibited" in Islam

The NSS can now reveal CMYT has also posted misogynistic and anti free speech content on social media. A YouTube video published in June 2021 claims "it is not permissible" for a woman to take a taxi on her own.

Another published in June 2020 claims abortion is "haraam" (forbidden) if it requires the pregnant woman to reveal "her private parts" to her doctor.

Another published last June states a woman may be "sinful" if she decides not to breastfeed her child.

The description of another video, also published in June of last year, said that "Protests, Debates, Free Society and Democracy" are all "prohibited in Islaam [sic]".

NSS: 'Taxpayer money is subsidising religious misogyny'

NSS campaigns officer Alejandro Sanchez said: "The Charity Commission's reaction to complaints about antisemitism at this organisation was to request it to officially register as a charity. This demonstrates something is wrong at the heart of charity law.

"Groups which promote antisemitic or misogynistic ideology should not be given the 'seal of approval' of charitable status, let alone the associated tax benefits.

"The inclusion of 'the advancement of religion' as a recognised charitable purpose is the fundamental problem. The government must now urgently review charity law which is resulting in taxpayer money subsidising this kind of ideology."

Press coverage

Civil Society: Regulator criticised as charity registered after antisemitism complaint

The Jewish Chronicle: Muslim group accused of antisemitism allowed to register as charity by watchdog