Controversial Islamic charity closes amid ‘safety fears’ for worshippers

A controversial religious charity has shut its doors, saying it is concerned for the safety of worshippers.

The Islamic Centre of England said it had suspended all its programmes “after receiving the concerns of the community and for their safety”, according to a sign posted on its gates this week.

The sign, photographed by the news website IranWire, has since been removed from the charity’s centre in Maida Vale, London.

The centre is being investigated by the Charity Commission, which opened a statutory inquiry last year to look at “serious governance concerns”. 

Earlier this month the regulator appointed an interim manager to lead the charity after its former trustees failed to comply with their legal duties.

The watchdog said the interim manager “will conduct a review of the charity’s governance and administration and make recommendations to the commission based on her findings”.

It is not known whether the closure is related to the commission’s work. Third Sector has approached the charity for comment.

In March, Tom Tugenhadt MP, the security minister, described ICE as “a vile threat” to the country.