News / Abdul Malik
Mosque chair can resume role following Charity Commission ruling
A senior Green Party councillor is able to continue serving as a charity trustee despite the Charity Commission ruling that his decision to share a post on social media about the Hamas attack on Israel “was unquestionably wrong”.
Abdul Malik had been suspended as a trustee of Easton Jamia Masjid but can now resume his role of chair at the mosque on St Mark’s Road.
More than 1,800 people signed an open letter in support of Malik during his suspension, saying “the action of the Charity Commission appears disproportionate and does not reflect (his) long record of service”.
Malik, a councillor for Ashley ward and a successful businessman, was also previously a magistrate and had been handed a formal warning for misconduct from the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) for sharing the same social media post in 2023 which he initially claimed he had been tagged in before admitting he had shared it himself.
Unlike the JCIO, the Charity Commission is unable to issue any official warning as an alternative to disqualification.
A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “We take very seriously any alleged links between a charity and extremism or terrorism.
“Such links are abhorrent, and corrosive to the trust on which the charitable sector depends.
“Mr Malik’s decision to repost this material on social media was unquestionably wrong.
“However, the Commission can only use the powers given to it by Parliament and, having weighed up the evidence and Mr Malik’s representations as required under the legislation, we concluded that while his conduct was damaging to trust and confidence in charities it did not fully meet the legal test for disqualifying him as a trustee.
“While Mr Malik is now able to continue to serve as a trustee, should any further concerns come to light we will not hesitate to assess those and reserve all regulatory options for the future.”
Abdul Malik speaks to schoolchildren on a visit to Easton Jamia Masjid – photo: Abdul Malik
Malik said: “I welcome the Charity Commission’s final decision and the confirmation that this matter is now closed.
“This process has been deeply challenging, not just for me but for my family, my colleagues and the community organisations I serve.
“From the outset, I have said that this was a single mistake, made without malicious intent, corrected promptly, and followed by reflection and reform.
“I am grateful that the review has recognised this and applied the law with fairness, proportionality and humanity.
“Trusteeship relies on people being willing to step forward and serve their communities.
“It is right that regulators act robustly where there is wrongdoing but it is equally vital that mistakes are judged in context and that accountability does not become punishment for its own sake.
“I remain fully committed to serving my community, strengthening governance, and continuing my work in the charitable sector with integrity and transparency.”
Main photo: Abdul Malik
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