The Charity Commission has launched an inquiry into the running of a mosque that earlier this year received an official warning over a speech that encouraged terrorism.
Brighton Mosque and Muslim Community Centre is being investigated amid an ongoing trustees’ dispute that the commission said was “having a detrimental impact on the charity’s governance and administration”.
Andrew Wilkinson of Shakespeare Martineau LLP has been appointed interim manager of the organisation and will take charge of its operation, while also identifying and appointing new trustees.
In May, the regulator issued the charity with an official warning after a former trustee was convicted of encouraging terrorism in a speech given on the charity’s premises.
The Charity Commission determined that the trustees knew or ought to have known the risk the individual posed to the charity and set out the actions trustees should take to protect the charity and its beneficiaries from abuse.
Today, it added: “However, due to an ongoing dispute at the charity about control of its administration and management, there is an increased risk that appropriate actions will not be taken to protect the charity from further undue risk of harm.”
It went on to say: “The charity has also experienced financial management issues and submitted its statutory annual returns late for its past four financial periods.
“The commission is concerned generally about the impact of the dispute on the charity’s ability to operate sustainably and for the benefit of its beneficiaries.
“The parties to the dispute have not, as advised repeatedly by the commission, been able to appropriately settle the dispute in the best interests of the charity.”
The inquiry will look into:
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Whether the trustees have been properly appointed and/or removed at the charity since autumn 2021, in accordance with its governing document.
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Whether there is an accurate and clear understanding at the charity about establishing its members.
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Whether the trustees have learnt from the issues that led to the charity receiving an official warning, and are willing and able to further the charity’s aims.
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Whether the charity’s income and expenditure has been properly accounted for since autumn 2021.
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Whether the charity’s expenditure has been used to carry out activities that exclusively furthered a charitable purpose.
The commission said it “may extend the scope of the inquiry if additional issues emerge”.
Interim managers are appointed where the commission has identified misconduct and/or mismanagement, or where it is necessary to protect a charity’s property.
Brighton Mosque and Muslim Community Centre has been contacted for comment.