Charity hosts preacher who said men can hit wives who refuse sex

An Islamic charity issued regulatory "advice and guidance" last year over misogynistic sermons has since hosted a preacher who has said men can hit their wives if they refuse to have sex with them.

Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre in Birmingham recently published videos featuring sermons by Mahamed AbdurRazaq (pictured). In a separate sermon recorded last year at An-Noor Masjid and Community Centre, AbdurRazaq said a man is "allowed to hit" his wife if she refuses "intercourse".

The National Secular Society reported An-Noor Masjid, also in Birmingham, to the Charity Commission over concerns the sermon condoned marital rape.

The Charity Commission subsequently gave An-Noor Masjid "advice and guidance". According to The Times, the commission said the charity has suspended AbdurRazaq from further speaking engagements.

The Charity Commission also said: "Anyone who advocates violence against women has absolutely no place in charity and we will not hesitate to act in such cases".

But it has since emerged Green Lane Masjid has published at least nine videos within the past four months of lectures by AbdurRazaq, with the most recent published on March 16^th.

The NSS previously reported Green Lane Masjid to the Charity Commission after its imam Mustafa Abu Rayyan said it is "important and an obligation" upon a woman that she "makes herself available for her husband as it relates to the physical intimacy".

During the panel discussion last year, Rayyan (also known as Mustafa Hussein) also suggested women should not focus on careers and should "obey" their husbands.

In response to that complaint, the Charity Commission said: "We can confirm that we carefully assessed concerns raised with us about Green Lane Masjid, regarding alleged comments made during a sermon. We provided the trustees with regulatory advice and guidance".

The NSS has now freshly referred Green Lane Masjid to the commission after it found the videos featuring AbdurRazaq on its YouTube account.

It has also raised concerns with Macmillan Cancer Support, which consulted with Rayyan for its guidance on "navigating fasting during Ramadan for cancer patients" published in February.

In 2023 the Government suspended a multimillion grant from Green Lane Masjid after the NSS raised concerns about other videos on its YouTube account, including one about stoning women to death.

And in 2007, Channel 4's Dispatches investigation into extremism in mosques found teachers and preachers at Green Lane Masjid promoting extremist ideas.

Green Lane Masjid is registered with the Charity Commission under the charitable objects of "to advance the Islamic faith for the public benefit". The "advancement of religion" is a recognised charitable purpose in law. Registered charities are entitled to a wide variety of tax reliefs, but they must exist for the public benefit.

The charity's "welfare and wellbeing" services list a "domestic abuse support" service.

A sharia council, the Islamic Judiciary Board, operates at the same address as the charity.

The NSS also alerted the Charity Commission to the Ghamidi Centre in 2021 and Utrujj Foundation in 2022 for condoning violence against women. And last year it referred Muhammadi Masjid Bradford to the commission for implying women cannot refuse their husbands' demands for sex. All three charities are registered under "the advancement of religion".

NSS: "Clearly, giving 'advice and guidance' to these charities isn't working"

NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: "The Charity Commission's response to misogyny at both An-Noor Masjid and Green Lane Masjid has been to give the charities 'advice and guidance'.

"But since receiving this 'advice and guidance', Green Lane Masjid has repeatedly hosted a preacher known for condoning marital rape.

"Clearly, giving 'advice and guidance' to these charities isn't working. And it's even more concerning that Green Lane Masjid claims to run 'domestic abuse support'. Such a charity should never give a platform to a speaker who believes it's acceptable for men to hit wives who refuse sex.

"We can only hope this time, the Charity Commission will take more robust action than simply repeating its advice. An organisation which repeatedly hosts preachers who promote violence against women is not serving the public benefit and must not be allowed to exploit the charity sector.

"And we implore the Government to investigate the role 'the advancement of religion' charitable purpose plays in enabling charities to promote misogyny. If this charitable purpose is allowing organisations with such regressive ideologies to become charities, it must be removed."