# Lewisham Islamic Centre Rejects UK Charity Watchdog Warning

- Link: https://the-timenews.com/lewisham-islamic-centre-warning/
- Published: 2026-11-12T19:30:51+00:00
- Author: The Time News

A south London mosque is refusing to back down after government regulators threatened
punitive action over sermons addressing the war in Gaza. Leaders at the **Lewisham
Islamic Centre** publicly rejected a formal rebuke from the Charity Commission this
week, arguing that state officials are attempting to police religious speech.

The dispute strikes at the boundary between faith, political expression and British
charity law. Regulators claim the mosque crossed that line during October 2023 services.
Mosque officials counter that the state wants to control what imams can tell their
worshippers.

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## What the watchdog demanded

The UK Charity Commission issued an official warning against the Lewisham Islamic
Centre following an inquiry into two October 2023 sermons. The regulator concluded
that the talks contained material that was divisive, inflammatory and contrary to
the charity’s best interests.

Under the terms of the warning issued on October 20, the commission told trustees
to tighten oversight of speakers and events on the premises. Regulators warned that
if the charity fails to remedy the alleged misconduct, it could face formal enforcement
action.

The mosque rejected the findings outright. In an official statement, the centre 
described the warning as an attempt to restrict and penalise legitimate religious
practice and expressions of solidarity with Palestinians.

## The Lewisham Islamic Centre defends the pulpit

Mosque leaders argued that regulators misunderstand the core function of Islamic
worship. A sermon, known as a khutbah, addresses the spiritual and daily concerns
of the congregation, including international crises that weigh heavily on the community.

> “The matters raised by the Commission represent a troubling attempt to scrutinise,
> restrict and penalise legitimate religious worship.”

Mosque officials added that the regulator’s compliance demands place an unnecessarily
burdensome set of expectations on Muslim institutions. They argued the commission
acted as if it were entitled to dictate which topics an imam may raise during Friday
prayers.

## Human rights group alleges a double standard

The confrontation drew immediate support from CAGE International, an advocacy group
based in London. The organisation accused the Charity Commission of treating Muslim
charities with hostility while taking a lenient approach toward pro-Israel organisations.

CAGE said the watchdog treated opposition to Zionism as inherent prejudice. The 
group argued that such an approach conflates political criticism with racial or 
religious hatred, placing Muslim discourse under automatic state suspicion.

A spokesperson for CAGE pointed to ongoing government efforts to expand the regulator’s
remit. Ministers have consulted on granting the commission broader powers to remove
charity trustees based on their views, which rights advocates argue could silence
dissenting voices across civil society.

## What happens next

Trustees at the **Lewisham Islamic Centre** are consulting lawyers to determine 
their options against the Charity Commission’s warning. The next step depends on
whether the charity launches a formal legal appeal against the regulator’s order.

_Source: [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/12/uk-mosque-rebukes-comissions-warning-following-palestine-comments)_

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