Why is Charity Watchdog Probing Al-Khair over Hamas Links?

Extradition proceedings and a comprehensive statutory inquiry are set to dictate the operational future of one of Britain’s largest Muslim faith-based charities, following coordinated actions by counter-terrorism authorities and the sector regulator.

The Charity Commission has formally escalated its engagement with the Croydon-headquartered Al-Khair Foundation into a full statutory inquiry under Section 46 of the Charities Act 2011. Concurrently, Counter Terror Policing London (CTP) continues to examine evidence gathered during the execution of two search warrants at residential and commercial addresses in Croydon, South London.

The escalating legal scrutiny centres on allegations that charitable resources were channelled towards Hamas, an organisation designated in its entirety as a proscribed terrorist group by both the United Kingdom and United States governments. As an immediate protective measure, the regulator issued an order restricting the foundation from making specified financial transactions or transferring funds without the prior consent of the Charity Commission.

The investigation gained international momentum following the arrest of 45-year-old Turkish national Mohammad Yousef Hasna by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK. Facing extradition to the United States, Hasna remains in custody ahead of formal court appearances in London. Federal prosecutors in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York have charged Hasna with conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, conspiring to finance terrorism, and financing terrorism. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.

According to US Department of Justice filings, Hasna allegedly used his position within an international humanitarian network to coordinate directly with senior Hamas figures regarding the delivery and distribution of funds and supplies in Gaza. Speaking on the case, US Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg stated that money flowing from sham entities directly fuels proscribed activities.

Responding to the allegations, representatives for the Al-Khair Foundation confirmed that the organisation submitted a Serious Incident Report to the Charity Commission prior to the formal launch of the statutory inquiry. The charity emphasised that Hasna is not an employee of the foundation, but works with one of its global partner entities to facilitate international aid delivery.

A spokesperson for the foundation, speaking to journalists, stated: "Everywhere we work we are firmly committed to ensuring that the funds entrusted to us by our generous donors are used for their intended purpose: meeting the humanitarian needs of poor and marginalised people in the communities we serve."

The spokesperson added: "Al-Khair Foundation is deeply committed to supporting those in need in Gaza. Our significant support over many years has included providing food parcels, hot meals, clean water, medical aid, shelter materials, winter assistance and orphan and family support."

Foundational History and Media Network- Established in 2003 by Islamic scholar and former prison chaplain Imam Qasim Rashid Ahmad, the Al-Khair Foundation initially began as a small Islamic primary school in Croydon with five pupils. Over two decades, the organisation expanded its scope to encompass international disaster response, educational initiatives, water sanitation, and healthcare services across dozens of countries.

A cornerstone of the foundation's fundraising and public outreach has been its dedicated broadcasting division. In 2009, founder Imam Qasim established IQRA TV (broadcasting on Sky Channel 739), a free-to-air satellite television network delivering Islamic educational programming, global appeal broadcasts, and humanitarian documentaries. The media arm subsequently expanded into a multi-channel network, incorporating IQRA Bangla (Sky Channel 778) and Islam TV (Sky Channel 741) to reach diverse linguistic demographics across the UK and internationally.

Official regulatory filings confirm that the charity’s revenue experienced rapid growth in recent years, recording an income exceeding £74 million for the financial year ending 31 July 2025.

Regulatory Context and Scrutiny

The statutory inquiry follows formal complaints and scrutiny from legal advocacy group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), which previously raised regulatory concerns regarding the charity's international operating partners and aid distribution channels. The Charity Commission stressed that the opening of a statutory inquiry does not constitute a definitive finding of wrongdoing by the charity's trustees.

The watchdog's upcoming investigation will evaluate whether trustees exercised due diligence, maintained effective financial controls over international aid delivery, and fulfilled their fiduciary duties to safeguard charitable assets against potential diversion.