Charity watchdog launches statutory inquiry into Islamic Human Rights Commission Trust

The Charity Commission has confirmed it has launched a statutory inquiry into the Islamic Human Rights Commission Trust over its funding of a non-charitable company.

In a statement, the Commission confirmed it is “escalating its engagement” with the organisation, which is widely known for its involvement with the annual Quds Day rallies in support of Palestinian rights in London and elsewhere.

The regulator said it had received complaints about the charity’s funding of an event where inflammatory statements were allegedly made. The inquiry will determine whether supporting this event aligned with the charity’s objectives.

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Since May 2025, the Commission has engaged with the charity over concerns regarding its involvement in publications and events organised by a non-charitable company that receives funding from the Trust.

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Trustees were asked to answer a range of questions about the charity’s involvement in these matters and its relationship with the non-charitable company.

After reviewing their responses—particularly regarding the event—the regulator decided to open a statutory inquiry to further investigate its concerns.

The inquiry will examine the trustees’ administration, management, and governance of the charity, as well as their compliance with legal duties and responsibilities. It will also review the Trust’s activities to assess whether they further the charity’s purposes and serve its best interests.

Additionally, the investigation will explore the relationship between the charity and the non-charitable company, including how this benefits the charity and helps deliver its objectives, and how trustees are managing this relationship in the charity’s best interests.

The inquiry will look at safeguards in place to ensure the charity is adequately separate from the non-charitable company, and what steps have been taken to make clear to the public that the two organisations are distinct entities.

The Commission said it may extend the scope of the inquiry if further regulatory issues emerge.

Previously, the regulator issued an Official Warning to the charity on 28 March 2023, partly regarding how it managed its relationship with the non-charitable company.

“The decision to escalate its case to an inquiry reflects the seriousness of the Commission’s concerns about the impact the unclear relationship between the charity and non-charitable company may have on public trust and confidence in the charity and charities more widely,” the Commission said.

The annual anti-Israel Al-Quds Day marches in central London have become notorious for a series of incidents in the past, including the widespread use of Hezbollah flags prior to the groups proscription.

The annual event was initiated by the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979 to express support for the Palestinians and oppose Zionism and Israel.

Nazim Ali. a one-time director of the IHRC was filmed at the 2017 Quds Day demo leading chants of“Zionists who give money to the Tory Party, to kill people in high rise blocks” and ” Careful of those rabbis who belong to the Board of Deputies who have got blood on their hands”.