The National Secular Society has called on the charities minister to strengthen charity regulation in line with standards set for faith groups which get Government support for security.
The Home Office has this month published a code of conduct for organisations participating in the protective security schemes for faith communities.
Under the schemes, places of worship and faith community centres in England and Wales that are at risk of hate crime can apply for funded security measures, such as CCTV, alarms and secure doors.
The new code of conduct includes expectations that recipients will not legitimise or endorse extremists, use hateful language, or use social media in a way that “could negatively reflect on their organisation or on the schemes”. It also includes a due diligence process to check applicants.
In a letter to Stephane Peacock MP, the NSS urged the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to work with the Charity Commission to adopt a similar code of conduct and due diligence process for organisations applying for registered charitable status.
It highlighted that many religious groups are afforded tax breaks and other benefits of registered charity status, despite promoting extreme and divisive ideology.
NSS: failure of due diligence means charities can promote misogyny, homophobia and bigotry
The Home Office’s code of conduct states: “Any concerns about an organisation or a connected individual arising out of the due diligence process that suggests the standards set out in this code of conduct are not met may render the organisation’s application unsuccessful”.
But the NSS said charity regulation is “not aligned” with this code of conduct, which creates “an inconsistency in the standards expected of organisations in receipt of public money”.
It said evidence suggests the Charity Commission does not subject organisations to as rigorous a due diligence process when they apply for registration. It highlighted the many charities newly registered under the ‘advancement of religion’ charitable purpose that the NSS has reported to the commission for promoting harmful ideologies.
This year alone, the NSS has referred newly registered charities to the commission for hosting sermons which say gay men need to be ‘cured’, women must “serve” their husbands, and compare homosexuality to paedophilia and bestiality.
This is despite registered charities having a legal duty to serve a public benefit.
The Home Office code of conduct says “racist or xenophobic comments”, “homophobic or transphobic comments”, “misogynistic comments” and “race or religion-based discrimination” are “unacceptable”.
But the NSS has reported dozens of charities which use language falling under all these categories, but none have faced any penalty aside from receiving “advice and guidance”.
This includes charities which have received multiple “advice and guidance” communications, such as Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre, which has repeatedly hosted preachers who condone violence against women even after receiving advice and guidance previously for promoting misogyny.
The NSS said: “If a charity failed the due diligence process of the protective security scheme because it promotes extremism or hate, it is unclear why that organisation should continue to be entitled to charitable status and attendant tax breaks”.
The NSS also raised how the Commission has registered organisations as charities even if they are aware the charity has a history of promoting extremism and hate.
In 2023, the commission registered Cricklewood Muslim Youth Trust as a charity despite the commission being previously warned that the trust has promoted anti-Jewish and anti-Christian bigotry.
Last week, the Home Affairs Committee heard criticism from Jewish groups that not enough is being done to tackle antisemitism in charities.
Russell Langer of the Jewish Leadership Council told the committee it is “no good paying for security guards and policing outside a synagogue” if charities “that have had issues are not dealt with adequately because the Charity Commission either have not been able to or do not have enough powers to deal with it”.
In March the Government said in its “Protecting What Matters” cohesion strategy that the charity regulator will be given stronger powers to tackle extremist abuse.
The NSS urged DCMS to work with the Charity Commission to ensure its guidance it is in line with the standards of the protective security for faith communities schemes.
It added that charity registration should include a similar due diligence process as these schemes, to ensure no organisation which does not meet standards can become a registered charity.
NSS: Need for code of conduct for charities “obvious”
NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: “It makes no sense for an organisation which fails to meet the code of conduct for the faith communities security schemes to nevertheless access tax exemptions, gift aid and other public funds through registered charity status.
“With so many charities using the cloak of religion to promote misogyny, homophobia, antisemitism and other forms of extremism, the need for a similar code of conduct for registered charities is obvious.
“We urge DCMS and the Charity Commission to explore how a rigorous code of conduct and due diligence scheme can be rolled out for registered charities, to prevent any public money going to organisations which foster division”.