A London mosque with charitable status is facing an investigation after it published sermons encouraging husbands to strike their wives and condoning the execution of gay people.
Videos published on the Hackney Islamic Community Centre’s YouTube channel describe gay sex as ‘one of the most evil of acts’, and urge men to ‘discipline’ their wives if they disobey them – including if they refuse to have sex.
Another lecture from the same preacher sees him praise Saudi Arabia for continuing to execute people who are accused of ‘witchcraft’.
Elsewhere, a community elder at the East London mosque – also known as Masjid Daar Al-Hadeeth – describes it as an ‘unfortunate reality’ that many women now feel empowered to call the police if they are struck by their husbands.
Campaign group the National Secular Society (NSS) has reported the centre to the Charity Commission, warning that the views it is sharing on social media are incompatible with charitable status.
As a registered charity, the Hackney Islamic Community Centre – which describes itself as helping ‘mankind’ in its work to ‘advance the Islamic faith’ – benefits from a considerable number of tax exemptions.
It paid no tax on £191,097 of income it received in the year to March 2025, according to its most recent published accounts. This included almost £155,000 of direct donations.
Community groups and watchdogs continue to monitor the center’s online content and teachings.
