**Welsh Charity Criticised for Sharing Content Appearing to Support Hamas**
A Cardiff-based charity is under scrutiny after an official investigation found it shared social media content interpreted as supportive of Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organisation by the UK government. The Charity Commission for England and Wales has determined that Al-Manar Centre Trust, which operates a mosque in the Welsh capital, behaved in a manner that could be seen as ‘glorifying’ terrorism, prompting regulators to intervene.
Al-Manar Centre Trust, established with intentions to promote Islamic education and foster community cohesion, found itself at the centre of controversy when a video was posted to its social media accounts in November 2023. The Charity Commission was alerted to the matter in January 2024, after concerns were raised about the nature of the video’s content, which reportedly appeared to portray Hamas and its actions during the October 2023 attacks on Israel in a sympathetic light.
Following these concerns, the Charity Commission launched a statutory inquiry in February 2024, delving into the charity’s social media activities and website oversight practices. During the investigation, it was revealed that the chair of the charity, who oversaw the management of its social platforms, had shared the video based only on its audio content, without watching the accompanying visuals. The chair reportedly believed the audio to be in line with the charity’s ethos, but failed to assess the full implications of the content.
According to the Charity Commission’s report, even a careful review of just the audio should have indicated that the narration might be interpreted as defending or supporting violent acts attributed to Hamas. The regulators concluded that such content, regardless of intent, could mislead the public into thinking the charity endorsed or justified violence, thereby breaching the UK’s strict laws regarding terrorism and charity governance.
Further findings highlighted significant failings in the charity’s internal oversight. The trustees of Al-Manar Centre Trust had not exercised sufficient diligence in monitoring the charity’s online presence. The report noted that appropriate mechanisms were not in place to evaluate or review potentially controversial posts before publication, a fault made more concerning given previous warnings. In fact, the charity had previously received official guidance in 2014 about protecting itself from extremist exploitation but did not implement necessary safeguards.
In response to these breaches, the Commission delivered an Official Warning to the charity and issued an Order requiring Al-Manar Centre Trust to take formal steps to improve its social media governance. A spokesperson for the Charity Commission, Joshua Farbridge, underscored the seriousness of sharing risky material, warning that, “A charity’s reputation can be severely damaged in an instant through reckless use of social media.”
Farbridge also commented that the inquiry’s outcome demonstrates the regulator’s determination to ensure that, “charities are not misused in supporting or glorifying terrorism.” He continued, “There is no excuse for failing to properly review content before it is shared by a charity,” emphasising the necessity for robust controls in the digital age.
The Commission’s findings and subsequent actions signal a broader warning to all organisations operating in the charity sector. Trustees are responsible for the content shared on their platforms, and even a single lapse in judgement can have significant repercussions—not just for their own organisation, but for public trust in the charitable sector as a whole.
Al-Manar Centre Trust is now required to demonstrate progress on their social media controls and prove to the Charity Commission that they have acted to prevent future incidents of this kind. The episode serves as a stark reminder of the risks that come with unvetted digital content and the constant vigilance required by those entrusted with charitable responsibilities.
Public reaction has been mixed, with some members of the local community expressing concern about reputational damage and the broader implications for interfaith relations in Cardiff. Meanwhile, others have demanded greater accountability measures for charities active online. The Charity Commission has reiterated its commitment to maintaining high standards across the sector, ensuring that UK charities uphold their legal and ethical obligations.