It is essential for charities, whether in England and Wales, or in Canada, to exercise caution when sharing resources on websites, social media, and elsewhere. Resources should not support terrorism or partisan political causes. We have recently blogged about social media use by charities and the importance of having a social media policy.
Below are two press releases recently from the Charity Commission of England and Wales dealing with problematic social media posts from two different charities:
Regulator highly critical of charity that shared video supporting Hamas
The Charity Commission has found misconduct and / or mismanagement by trustees in the administration of the Al-Manar Centre Trust and issued the charity with an Order requiring it to take action on its social media use.
The charity, which operates a mosque in Cardiff, has objects that include advancing Islamic education, and fostering community relationships and religious harmony.
In January 2024, the Charity Commission became aware of a video shared on the charity’s social media account in November 2023. The video contained content that, in the Commission’s view, could be understood as demonstrating support for the proscribed terrorist organisation Hamas.
In February 2024, the regulator launched a statutory inquiry into the charity. The inquiry examined the charity’s social media and website controls, as well as the circumstances surrounding the posting of the video.
Findings
The inquiry was told that the charity’s chair, who was the only trustee responsible for managing the charity’s social media content, posted the video after only listening to its audio. The chair believed that the audio aligned with the charity’s objectives, without reviewing the visual content.
In the inquiry’s view, the video – which was not produced by or for the charity – contains content that presents a positive image of Hamas and its October 2023 terrorist attack on Israel. It also attempts to downplay or justify the attack.
Consequently, the inquiry concluded that the video was likely to lead an ordinary member of the public to infer that the charity was supportive of and/ or glorified terrorism.
The inquiry found that the chair’s decision to rely solely on the audio was wholly inadequate. Furthermore, and in the inquiry’s view, even reviewing just the audio, the chair should have recognised from the narration that its content could be interpreted as supporting Hamas’ actions.
There were also failings by trustees, at the time the video was posted, to undertake adequate diligence and monitoring of online content posted by the charity. The inquiry found that the video did not further the charity’s objects for the public benefit.
Despite receiving regulatory advice in 2014 on protecting the charity from extremist abuse, the Commission found that the trustees had failed to implement adequate social media controls. At the time of the incident, the charity’s social media policy consisted solely of a basic flowchart and lacked meaningful guidance or oversight mechanisms.
As a result of the trustees’ misconduct and / or mismanagement regarding the posting of the video and lack of adequate social media controls, the Commission issued an Official Warning to the charity.
Additionally, in October 2024, the Commission made an Order directing the trustees to take actions on the charity’s use of its website and social media, which included a review of all material on its website and social media platforms.
The trustees complied fully with the Order.
Joshua Farbridge, Head of Compliance Visits and Inspections at the Charity Commission, said:
A charity’s reputation can be severely damaged in an instant through reckless use of social media.
Our inquiry concluded that the conduct of the trustees fell below the standards expected of them. Inadequate controls over social media led to the sharing of harmful content, and there is no excuse for failing to properly review content before it is shared by a charity.
Our swift intervention, which included an Official Warning and a legal Order requiring specific action to be taken, underscores the Commission’s firm commitment to ensuring charities are not misused in supporting or glorifying terrorism.
The full inquiry report can be found on gov.uk.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that charity can thrive. This ambition will help to create and sustain an environment where charities further build public trust and ultimately fulfil their essential role in enhancing lives and strengthening society. Find out more: About us – The Charity Commission – GOV.UK
- On 28 February 2024, the Commission took the decision to open a statutory inquiry into the charity under section 46 of the Charities Act 2011. The charity’s trustees were notified of the inquiry on 29 February 2024 and it was publicly announced on 7 March 2024.
- On 1 October 2024, the inquiry gave formal notice, as is required under the Act, of the Commission’s intention to issue the charity with an Official Warning under section 75A(1)(b) of the Act. The Official Warning was proposed in respect of the charity the failings surrounding the Video. On 9 April 2025, the Official Warning was issued to the charity.
- On 1 October 2024, the inquiry exercised the Commission’s power under section 84 of the Act and made an Order directing the trustees to take specified actions in relation to the charity’s use of social media. The Order was made on the basis that the Commission was satisfied that, at the time, there had been misconduct or mismanagement in the administration of the charity. On 17 December 2024, the trustees informed the inquiry of the actions taken in response to the Order. Following a review of the information provided, the inquiry was satisfied that the trustees had fully complied with the requirements of the Order.
- During the inquiry, the Commission exchanged information with the police in relation to the Video under sections 54 and 56 of the Act.
Here is another press release:
Press release
Regulator issues Official Warning to charity and disqualifies trustee over inflammatory social media activity
A charity set up to support Palestinian refugees, particularly in Lebanon, has been issued with an Official Warning after posting “divisive and inflammatory” political material on social media.
The Commission has also issued an Order disqualifying one of the charity’s trustees from being a trustee and from holding a position with senior management functions, for a period of eight years.
Palestinian Refugee Project was registered in 2021, with objects to benefit the Palestinian diaspora in refugee camps through poverty relief, advancing education, relieving sickness and providing social welfare and leisure facilities.
The Charity Commission, the regulator of charities in England and Wales, began examining the charity in December 2023, after concerns were raised about its social media activity. The regulator also identified that all of the charity’s then trustees appeared to be related, with one serving as CEO, giving rise to concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
The trustees’ responses to the Commission’s questions raised further concerns, for example, that they lacked an understanding of their legal duties and responsibilities, including the importance of trustees acting and making decisions collectively.
The regulator established that, as a result of governance failings, Mrs Taghrid Al-Mawed-Layton – who was also acting as the charity’s voluntary CEO – had sole responsibility for the charity’s social media activity and used the charity’s platforms to promote political material, which was not in furtherance of the charity’s aims, and / or was divisive and inflammatory.
This included posts that could be interpreted as downplaying acts of terrorism, and which tried to raise support for a change to Israel’s recognition as a state. The charity failed to implement a formal social media policy and the remaining trustees lacked oversight in relation to its social media activity.
The Commission has disqualified Mrs Al-Mawed-Layton for eight years due to her role in mismanagement and / or misconduct of the charity, including social media activity on behalf of the charity. The Order disqualifies Mrs Al-Mawed-Layton from being a trustee and holding a senior management position in any charity.
Joshua Farbridge, Head of Compliance Visits and Inspections at the Charity Commission said:
We found a number of serious failings at Palestinian Refugee Project, which put the charity’s finances and reputation at risk. The charity, in effect, was being run by a single trustee who either did not understand, or failed to adhere to, basic trustee duties.
It’s important to stress that the Commission does not seek to encroach on any individual’s right to freedom of speech, expression, or beliefs. And we recognise that events in the Middle East over recent months and years have been deeply emotive and distressing.
However, trustees have clear legal obligations, including to act in line with the charity’s purpose and best interests, and act reasonably and prudently. Sadly, the good aims this charity set out to achieve was seriously undermined by the conduct and failings of its trustees.
As part of its case, the regulator also established that a failure to implement financial controls meant that funds were spent without proper authorisation or controls. The charity is overdue in filing its accounts for the years ending April 2023 and 2024.
The Charity Commission’s case involving the charity will remain ongoing allowing the regulator to follow up on the remedial actions set out in the Official Warning.
Ends
Notes to editors:
- The Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its ambition is to be an expert regulator that is fair, balanced, and independent so that charity can thrive. This ambition will help to create and sustain an environment where charities further build public trust and ultimately fulfil their essential role in enhancing lives and strengthening society.
- The Official Warning and disqualification order were issued as part of a regulatory compliance case into the charity, which remains ongoing. These cases allow us to gather evidence and make findings, and to help trustees address any failures or weaknesses that we might identify.
- The Charity Commission maintains a searchable register of removed trustees.