An aid charity accused of supporting terrorists in Syria has been given a "clean bill of health" by an interim manager appointed last year by the Charity Commission - but the regulator says its inquiry is ongoing.

The Charity Commission opened a statutory inquiry into Al-Fatiha Global in March 2014 and appointed Michael King of law firm Stone King as the interim manager in 2015. King had responsibility for running the charity in place of trustees.

The Commission has now discharged King but has confirmed that its inquiry is ongoing.

A statement issued on behalf of Stone King said the charity had received a "clean bill of health" but the Charity Commission has said that this is the interim manager's position, not the regulator's.

The Commission inquiry was initially opened after a number of stories appeared in the media alleging inappropriate links between the charity and individuals who were claimed to be involved in supporting armed or other inappropriate activities in Syria.

The Sun had run a front-page story which alleged that Adeel Ali, who it described as Al-Fatiha's chief executive but who the charity said was a volunteer, was in Syria supporting rebel fighters.

King was tasked with improving the management and administration of the charity; he worked alongside trustees to ensure compliance with charity law and good practice, and to enable it to be more effective in delivering its important work.  

A spokesman for the charity said that trustees wished to thank King and his colleagues at Stone King for their unwavering support during the statutory inquiry.

He said: “We also wish to thank the Charity Commission for the care and consideration it exercised in selecting an interim manager that was simply ideal for us.

“As a result of the support offered by Stone King and the Charity Commission we have developed considerable expertise in this area and for this we are very grateful. We would be happy to offer our assistance to any other charity the Charity Commission feels could benefit.”

Michael Lloyd, a trustee of the charity, had launched an appeal against the decision to open a statutory inquiry, which was subsequently withdrawn in October last year.

However, the Charity Commission has clarified that it has not given the charity “a clean bill of health”.

A spokeswoman said: “The IM has been discharged because he has fulfilled the remit of his appointment. Our inquiry remains ongoing and our findings and conclusions will be set out in the report we publish upon its conclusion.”