Failings found at mosque charity whose trustee encouraged terrorism

An Islamic charity whose former trustee was convicted of encouraging terrorism was "poorly managed", an inquiry has found.

The Charity Commission last week concluded its inquiry into Brighton Mosque and Muslim Community Centre, whose former trustee Abubaker Deghayes gave a speech encouraging violent jihad.

Deghayes, a former imam at Dyke Road Mosque (pictured) which is operated by the charity, was convicted in 2022 for giving a speech in which he described jihad as "compulsory" while making a stabbing motion.

The subsequent inquiry concluded there was "misconduct and/or mismanagement" at the charity.

Brighton Mosque is registered under the charitable purpose of "the advancement of religion".

Trustee: Jihad "by sword" is "compulsory"

In his speech at the mosque in 2020, Deghayes said jihad "by sword" was "compulsory" and an "obligation" upon his audience, "whatever the British government thinks, whatever Prevent thinks, whatever Israel thinks".

He added: "Send them to the sea. They can go and drink from the sea, Allah curse their fathers".

He said those who "don't like that" can "go fight Allah". During this part of the speech he made a stabbing motion.

Around 50 people listened to the speech, including children.

During the sentencing, the judge said Deghayes had stated he would continue to make similar speeches, and therefore his risk of reoffending was assessed as high.

The inquiry found at least one other trustee was present at the speech but did not intervene.

In 2022 the Charity Commission issued an official warning to Brighton Mosque after it determined the then-trustees should have known about the risk Deghayes posed.

The inquiry was launched after the commission remained "concerned" the actions outlined in the warning would not be taken, due to an "unresolved dispute" regarding who was responsible for the charity's administration and management.

The commission appointed an interim manager to the charity to restore "proper governance and administration", and a new board of trustees was appointed to the charity "after a full and thorough recruitment exercise".

The commission also disqualified former trustee Dr Karim Aboutayab for four years and six months after finding he had a "greater culpability" for the mismanagement. This included using an "inflammatory" tone which fuelled dispute, and failing to file the charity's annual accounts on time.

NSS: Charity law loophole 'exploited' by religious extremists

The National Secular Society said Brighton Mosque is "the tip of the iceberg" of extremism in religious charities.

It has reported many charities to the commission in recent years over concerns about violent extremism, including:

• Miftahul Jannah Academy and Masjid-E-Umer Trust, which hosted a preacher who praised the Taliban and said wealthy Muslims should spend money to help "recruitment for jihad" and buy weapons.
• Qur'ani Murkuz Trust, which hosted a lecture following the October 7^th Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 saying: "Those who have faith fight in the way of Allah, while those who disbelieve fight in the way of Satan. Fight then against the friends of Satan."
• Islamic Centre Leicester, which hosted a lecture in 2023 that suggested 'blasphemers' against Islam should be executed.
• An-Noor Masjid and Community Centre, which uploaded a lecture last year that said a man may hit his wife if she refuses to have sex with him.

The NSS has also raised the issue with government ministers.

NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: "When it comes to extremism in religious charities, we believe Brighton Mosque is the tip of the iceberg.

"In recent years we have found multiple examples of Islamic charities promoting or condoning extremism, including violent extremism.

"This extremism is rooted in the religious beliefs which the charity is set up to promote.

"We believe the charitable purpose of 'the advancement of religion" is therefore enabling religious charities to promote extremism more readily than other kinds of charity.

"This charitable purpose requires urgent review. It's evidently acting as a loophole for religious extremists to exploit."