MEND asks the Charity Commission to show its evidence

The government wants to give the Charity Commission new powers to remove trustees and senior managers from charities, including mosques, over what it calls extremism. A public consultation is open until 23 December 2026.

These powers could give the Commission powers to act over sermons, speeches and personal social media posts, including things said years ago, without anyone having broken the law.

Before powers like this are handed over, the public should see the evidence behind why they are needed. MEND has submitted a Freedom of Information request asking the Charity Commission:

1. how many charity trustees have actually been convicted of the offences the government now wants to target?
2. whether it has assessed how these powers will affect different faith communities
3. how the more than 400 cases it has opened over the Middle East since October 2023 split between charities supporting Palestinians and those supporting Israel, and what happened in each?
4. how many of its more than 80 police referrals led to anyone being charged or convicted?
5. who is making the complaints?
6. what action it has taken against charities that raised money for foreign armies, including the Israeli army?

Muslim charities and mosques have faced disproportionate scrutiny for years. Powers this broad risk making that worse. We want the facts on the table before anything is decided.

We will publish what the Commission tells us. We will also work with other Muslim organisations to share guidance to help mosques and Muslim charities respond to the consultation.