London – CAGE is calling for a Parliamentary investigation into the impartiality of the Charity Commission, the partisan influence that Sir William Shawcross is having on its ability to exercise its function, and its undue bias against Muslim charities.

 

CAGE is also requesting that a recent report by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee be rectified. It displays a disturbing bias in favour of the Charity Commission concluding that “The Charity Commission should be commended for pursuing charities who use their funds to finance CAGE…”

CAGE was not given the opportunity to provide evidence in its favour regarding the Committee report, nor were charities previously associated with us.

View the entire letter to Mr. Bernard Jenkin MP of PACAC
CAGE’s call for an investigation of the Charity Commission by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee and the Public Accounts Committee is made on the basis that the political stance of Sir William Shawcross, whose personal opinions – the defence of Guantanamo Bay and an undue bias against Muslim charities, among other views – are influencing how the Commission fulfils its role as regulator.
View the entire letter addressed to Ms. Meg Hillier MP of PAC and a copy addressed to Mr. Bernard Jenkin MP of PACAC

We believe that these views concerning CAGE and Muslim charities are so strong that Mr. Shawcross and others are unable to fulfil their roles in an impartial and unbiased manner, and therefore pose a threat to civil society.

 

Ibrahim Mohamoud, Communications Officer, said:

“The Charity Commission’s role is to assist and regulate charities. It is meant to act within the rule of law, in an impartial manner. Instead, it is increasingly being called upon to fulfil a political mandate approved by Mr. Shawcross, whose views on Guantanamo Bay and torture are well known.”

 

“This bias against Muslim charities is a threat to the independence of the charity sector, where unpopular causes should be protected. We call on Parliament to investigate the Charity Commission for the sake of preserving civil society.”

 

 

(Image courtesy of Eric Huybrechts on Flickr)

(NOTE: CAGE represents cases of individuals based on the remit of our work. Supporting a case does not mean we agree with the views or actions of the individual. Content published on CAGE may not reflect the official position of our organisation.)