The Charity Commission has opened a regulatory compliance case into Hounslow Jamia Masjid and Islamic Centre following a recording of a seminar in which an imam reportedly described gay people as a threat to humanity.
What has prompted the action?
Regulators say they took action after media coverage raised "serious concerns" about an individual connected to the mosque and after receiving a complaint from the National Secular Society (NSS). The concerns relate to a seminar held in January 2023, which the NSS says was uploaded to YouTube by the west London mosque and appeared to be aimed at children. The recording is reported to have lasted around two hours.
"There is no other way the LGBTQ sort of motive, the agenda, the purpose of that is to destroy the human race. Why? Because you cannot produce."
The quotation above is attributed in media reports to Shaykh Ammar Siddiqui, who is named as speaking at the event. Reports also say he appeared to endorse capital punishment for homosexuality in certain Muslim-majority countries, describing such laws as a deterrent.
What the Charity Commission says
A spokesman for the Charity Commission emphasised charities' responsibilities, saying:
"Charities must not allow their premises, events or online content to become forums for hate speech against any community. The public, rightly, expects charities to bring people together not to stoke division."
The regulator added that, when such allegations arise, it will "within our regulatory remit, deal with it robustly" and that it has opened the compliance case to gather information and engage with the charity’s trustees. The Commission confirmed it will consider the NSS complaint as part of its enquiries.
Response from the mosque
The mosque’s trustees have publicly said the Trust is investigating the matter. Beyond that statement, no further detail about the trustees' investigation or any actions already taken has been reported at this stage.
- Allegation source: Seminar recording from January 2023, uploaded to YouTube.
- Complaint made by: National Secular Society.
- Regulatory body: The Charity Commission, which has opened a regulatory compliance case.
Local impact and context
The case touches on issues of religious teaching, the safeguarding of young people, and the responsibilities of charities operating in Hounslow. The Charity Commission's involvement means the matter moves beyond community debate to a formal regulatory process. For residents concerned about community relations, the focus will be on what the trustees find and whether the mosque takes steps to prevent any recurrence.
| Key item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | Seminar at Hounslow Jamia Masjid and Islamic Centre (January 2023) |
| Alleged speaker | Shaykh Ammar Siddiqui |
| Complaint | National Secular Society |
| Regulatory action | Charity Commission: regulatory compliance case opened |
At this stage the Commission's action is investigatory. The regulator will gather evidence and engage the mosque’s trustees as part of its inquiry. Any outcomes — such as guidance, formal regulatory measures or referral to other authorities — will depend on the findings.
Local residents seeking further information should look for updates from the Charity Commission and statements issued by the mosque’s trustees. For those worried about community tensions, local councils and community organisations often have contact points for concerns about hate speech and community relations.
This is a developing story. InfoRadar will follow any public updates from the Charity Commission and the mosque’s trustees.
