The Charity Commission has opened a compliance case into the Birmingham Mosque Trust after concerns were raised earlier this year.
Muhammad Afzal, the charity’s chair, is a former lord mayor of Birmingham and appeared in the High Court earlier this year to challenge a city council election result.
He had accused rivals from other parties of spreading “false claims” about him engaging in “gifting” voters during the campaign last year.
However, he decided to withdraw his allegations after “conclusive evidence” was provided that “he and his supporters did supply electors with packets of dates containing Labour Party stickers on a widespread basis during the election campaign”.
Footage published by the Birmingham Mail in February appeared to show Afzal and other Labour campaigners handing over dates to residents.
Afzal was ordered to pay the legal costs of the two respondents to his allegations, with initial interim costs of £20,000.
The Charity Commission has now confirmed that concerns have been raised with it about Afzal’s charity, the Birmingham Mosque Trust, of which he is the chair.
“The Commission is aware of concerns raised at Birmingham Mosque Trust and have an open regulatory compliance case,” a spokesperson for the regulator said.
“We are engaging with trustees and continue to assess information on this matter.”
Civil Society understands concerns that Afzal has brought the charity into disrepute are among those that the Commission is considering.
Mohammed Hanif, secretary of the charity, said: “The Charity Commission has requested some information regarding allegations that were raised in February 2023.
“We are co-operating fully with the Charity Commission and will be responding to their queries in due course.”
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