Transfer of Leadership at Muslim Aid: New Interim Leader Installed
The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, has appointed an Interim Manager to Muslim Aid (registered charity number 295224). However, it's important to clarify that no publicly available search results indicate that Muslim Aid is currently under investigation by the Charity Commission for financial irregularities or governance issues.
The appointment of Michael King of Stone King as Interim Manager to Muslim Aid was made under Section 76(3)(g) of the Charities Act 2011, effective from 17 October 2016. The Commission's decision to appoint an Interim Manager is based on public interest and increasing public trust and confidence in charities.
The Commission opened a statutory inquiry into Muslim Aid in November 2013 to examine financial irregularities in its overseas activities. The charity was given 12 months to comply with the Order, and the Commission kept the inquiry open to monitor progress and ensure compliance. In January 2015, the Commission issued an Order under section 84 of the Charities Act 2011, requiring the charity to improve its governance and financial management.
Michelle Russell, Director of Investigations, Monitoring, and Enforcement at the Charity Commission, stated that the trustees have been unable to resolve the matters themselves. The Interim Manager's role is to review the governance infrastructure and financial controls of Muslim Aid's domestic and international operations. The Interim Manager expects his role to last only a few months.
Jehangir Malik, Chief Executive of Muslim Aid, stated that the charity has been cooperating with the Charity Commission throughout its inquiry and will continue to do so. Jehangir Malik also expressed his commitment to resolving the matters as a priority. The charity under investigation, Muslim Aid, is an international NGO active in over 70 countries.
It's worth noting that while other Muslim charities and mosques in the UK have faced investigations and warnings regarding inflammatory, divisive, or political content linked to Israel-Palestine issues and social media posts, no such concerns have been raised about Muslim Aid.
After the conclusion of the inquiry, the Charity Commission plans to publish a report detailing the issues examined, actions taken, and outcomes. The main role of the appointed Interim Manager, Michael King, is to ensure the organization adheres to good governance practices and expands its relief work. Michael King, the Interim Manager, expressed his readiness to work with Muslim Aid to strengthen the organization.
[1] [https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/18/charity-commission-appoints-interim-manager-to-muslim-aid] [2] [https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/al-manar-centre-trust-under-inquiry-by-charity-commission.html] [3] [https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/oct/18/abdullah-quilliam-society-under-inquiry-by-charity-commission] [4] [https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/charity-commission-investigates-abdullah-quilliam-society-over-israel-lobby-claims-l8qn6m9qv] [5] [https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/mosque-in-london-warned-by-charity-commission-over-anti-israel-speech-1.470519]
The appointment of Michael King of Stone King as Interim Manager to Muslim Aid is a move to ensure the organization adheres to good governance practices and expands its relief work, which is a crucial aspect of the business and finance industry. The Commission's decision to appoint an Interim Manager is based on public interest and increasing public trust and confidence in charities, a key factor in maintaining a robust and sustainable industry.
