The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into the Islamic Human Rights Commission Trust following ongoing concerns about its relationship with a non-charitable company. The regulator has been engaging with the charity since May 2025 after receiving complaints about its involvement in events and publications organized by the company, which reportedly receives funding from the charity. Concerns were heightened after allegations emerged that inflammatory statements were made at one such event, prompting the Commission to question whether the charity’s support for it was consistent with its stated charitable objectives.
To better understand the situation, the Commission requested detailed information from the trustees regarding the charity’s activities and its connection with the non-charitable company. After reviewing their responses, particularly about the contentious event, the regulator decided to escalate the case to a formal inquiry to address its regulatory concerns.
The inquiry will focus on how the charity’s trustees are managing and administering the organization, assessing whether their actions align with their legal duties and responsibilities. It will also examine how the charity’s activities further its stated purposes, how the trustees are managing their relationship with the non-charitable company, and whether adequate safeguards exist to maintain separation and transparency between the two entities.
This inquiry follows an earlier Official Warning issued to the charity in March 2023, also concerning its management of the same relationship. The regulator stated that the escalation reflects the seriousness of its concerns about the potential impact of the unclear relationship on public confidence in the charity and the wider sector.
The Commission emphasized that it may broaden the scope of the inquiry if new issues arise and will publish a full report upon its conclusion, outlining its findings and any actions taken. It also clarified that criminal allegations, if any, fall under police jurisdiction, and proscription matters are handled by the Home Office.
