Targeting of Muslim charities unacceptable - MCB

The Muslim Council of Britain’s (MCB) Deputy Secretary General, Dr Daud Abdullah, said: "We are astonished and angered by these developments because in every reported instance no explicit reasons are given by the banks."

He added: "Clearly those worst affected would not be the officials who administer the charities but the tens of thousands of impoverished people who rely on their humanitarian aid and support."

Where there is no breach of British law or the statutory regulations governing their charity status, there is no justification for these summary closures and denial of services, the MCB said.

"We have already communicated our concerns to the highest level of government, the Charity Commission and the banks concerned and despite having received assurances that the matter is receiving urgent attention with a view to equitable resolution, we find that the actions against Muslim charities are being escalated," said Dr Abdullah. Dr Daud Abdullah also said: "Given the growing anxiety caused by the actions of the banks the MCB urges the Prime Minister to expedite his intervention to ensure that all charities are afforded the same facilities and treatment as other British institutions without prejudice or favour and that no pressure from any foreign government or agency is allowed to cause detriment to any Muslim charity unless there is evidence of wrong doing. We also call upon the Banks concerned once again to carefully re-consider their manifestly unjust decisions so that they can regain the confidence of Muslim communities in their financial probity and ethics."