Charity Commission Warns Lewisham Islamic Centre Over Sermons in London 2026

Key Points

• The Charity Commission issued an official warning under section 75A of the Charities Act 2011 to Lewisham Islamic Centre in south-east London, citing findings of “misconduct and/or mismanagement” and a “breach of trust”.
• The regulatory intervention followed complaints and adverse media coverage regarding sermons delivered at the premises, specifically two addresses from October 2023 and August 2024.
• The regulator ordered the charity to ensure all activities further its charitable objects, benefit the public, do not unnecessarily risk damaging its reputation, and adhere to a robust events and speakers policy.
• The warning, issued on 20 October 2026 and announced publicly on 11 November 2026, will remain visible on the charity’s entry on the Register of Charities for one year, with failure to comply risking further regulatory action.
• Lewisham Islamic Centre “categorically” rejected the allegations, describing the regulator as “overbearing” and “overzealous”, and stated it is seeking legal advice regarding a potential challenge in defence of religious freedom.
• The dispute coincides with broader UK government proposals, unveiled by Communities Secretary Steve Reed in March 2026, to grant the Charity Commission expanded powers to suspend trustees and close charities deemed to promote extremism.

Lewisham (South London News) November 13, 2026 – A south-east London mosque has accused the charities regulator of being “overbearing” and “overzealous” after receiving an official warning for hosting sermons described by the watchdog as “inflammatory” and “divisive”. The Charity Commission confirmed that Lewisham Islamic Centre must overhaul its governance of speakers and events following a regulatory compliance case that identified “misconduct and/or mismanagement”.

Why Did the Charity Commission Issue an Official Warning to Lewisham Islamic Centre?

The regulatory intervention stems from a compliance investigation opened after the Charity Commission received complaints regarding sermons delivered at the south-east London premises, which had also generated adverse media coverage. According to the regulator’s official announcement published on GOV.UK on 11 November 2026, the formal warning was issued on 20 October 2026 under section 75A of the Charities Act 2011.

After assessing evidence connected to two specific sermons and other events hosted at the charity, the regulator determined that a “breach of trust” alongside “misconduct and/or mismanagement” had occurred. As reported by Civil Society, the Charity Commission stated that the two sermons “included content that was inflammatory, divisive and not in the charity’s best interests”.

In its official notice, the Commission instructed the trustees of Lewisham Islamic Centre to ensure that all activities held on its premises strictly further its charitable objects, benefit the public, and remain in the charity’s best interests. The regulator further mandated that the charity must prevent any associated activity from unnecessarily risking reputational damage and ordered it to “review, implement, and adhere to, a robust and suitable events and speakers policy which applies to all of the charity’s speakers”. The warning will remain published on the charity’s public entry on the Register of Charities for a period of one year, and the watchdog cautioned that failing to remedy the identified failings could result in further regulatory enforcement.

Which Sermons Triggered the Regulatory Investigation?

While the Charity Commission’s formal press release did not name individual preachers or specify the exact phrases that prompted the sanction, subsequent media reporting detailed the two addresses at the centre of the compliance case.

As reported by Sky News, the first sermon took place in October 2023, shortly after the Hamas attacks on Israel. During that address, Imam Shakeel Begg spoke about “suffering at the hands of the oppressors and the Zionists”. Sky News further reported that Imam Begg referred to public figures, including celebrities Justin Bieber and Kylie Jenner, describing them as “sick” in an apparent reference to their public expressions of support for Israel.

As reported by Annabel Sinclair of Jewish News and corroborated by The National, the second sermon under scrutiny was delivered in August 2024 by the mosque’s head imam, Ashraf Dabous. Addressing the Southport riots—which erupted across parts of the United Kingdom following the fatal stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class—Imam Dabous spoke of a “Zionist agenda” and stated of those involved in the unrest that “their manipulators are Zionists and they are supporters of the state of Israel”.

How Has Lewisham Islamic Centre Responded to the Watchdog’s Decision?

The trustees of Lewisham Islamic Centre, a registered charity established to advance the Islamic faith and education, relieve poverty, and provide recreational facilities, issued a four-page statement on 11 November 2026 rejecting the regulator’s findings.

As reported by Middle East Monitor, the centre’s trustees “categorically reject” any suggestion that they failed in their statutory duties. In its official statement, quoted by The Jewish Chronicle, Lewisham Islamic Centre declared: “This is about more than one mosque or one charity. It is about whether Muslim institutions can discharge their religious and charitable responsibilities without being penalised for expressing solidarity with Palestine, conducting established forms of Islamic worship, or addressing issues of concern to their congregations, including repudiation of Zionism, or denunciation of the Israeli state for war crimes and genocide”.

The charity argued that a Friday sermon is an integral component of Islamic worship rather than an ordinary public speech, maintaining that traditional supplications for those facing oppression are a longstanding feature of Muslim religious practice. Continuing its statement, as reported by The Jewish Chronicle, the centre asserted:

“Solidarity with the oppressed must not become grounds for charitable sanction. While issuing a public warning is not mandatory and, in our view, overzealous, the commission has nevertheless failed to provide adequate reasons for considering it necessary to publish an official warning, or for concluding that doing so was in the charity’s best interests or served the public interest”.

Concluding its response, the charity confirmed it is taking legal advice and issued a call to action across the sector:

“The centre is continuing to seek legal advice on the most appropriate course of action. Should legal action be pursued, we would urge others to come forward and join a united challenge to an overbearing commission in defence of religious freedom”.

What Is the Background to This Development?

The dispute between Lewisham Islamic Centre and the Charity Commission unfolds against a backdrop of heightened regulatory scrutiny and legislative proposals governing charitable speech and extremism in the United Kingdom. Registered under charity number 1187279, Lewisham Islamic Centre operates on Lewisham High Street, hosting daily prayers, Friday congregations, and educational classes in Arabic and the Qur’an, while stating on its website that it aspires to shape the future of the wider Muslim community and promote community cohesion. Both Shakeel Begg and Ashraf Dabous are listed on the official register as trustees of the charity.

The regulatory case also occurs amid significant shifts in government policy regarding the powers of the charity watchdog. As reported by Middle East Monitor, in March 2026, Communities Secretary Steve Reed unveiled plans as part of the government’s social cohesion strategy to grant the Charity Commission expanded authority to suspend trustees and close charities accused of promoting extremism. Ministers framed these proposals as part of wider efforts to combat antisemitism, with a public consultation on powers to disqualify individuals who have promoted violence or racial or religious hatred from running charities scheduled to close on 23 December 2026.

At the same time, charity sector bodies and civil society groups have expressed concern that broad or imprecise definitions of extremism could curtail lawful advocacy, religious expression, and political campaigning by charitable organisations. Furthermore, the Charity Commission has faced simultaneous pressure from parliamentarians and advocacy groups regarding complaints filed against both Muslim and pro-Israel charities following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East since October 2023.

How Could This Development Affect Religious Charities and Congregations?

For trustees of mosques, religious institutions, and faith-based charities across England and Wales, the official warning establishes a clear regulatory precedent regarding the boundaries of political and geopolitical commentary delivered from the pulpit. Charity trustees will likely face increased pressure to formalise and enforce strict vetting procedures for all internal and visiting speakers, ensuring that sermons and public statements do not breach Charity Commission guidance on reputation management and community cohesion.

For congregants and Muslim community organisations, the outcome of Lewisham Islamic Centre’s potential legal challenge will determine how far religious charities can address international conflicts, express solidarity with Palestinians, or critique Zionism without risking statutory sanctions. If the centre proceeds with judicial review or tribunal proceedings, the resulting legal ruling could clarify the balance between statutory charity governance requirements and protections for religious freedom under UK law. Conversely, if the warning stands unchallenged alongside the government’s proposed expansion of regulatory powers, faith-based charities may adopt more cautious, self-regulating approaches to sermons and public advocacy to avoid public reprimands or trustee disqualification.