UK Charity Regulator Bans Trustee Over Anti-Semitic Sermon Following Hamas Attacks

 

A trustee at an Islamic charity in Nottingham has been banned from holding any senior charitable role for three years after delivering a sermon six days after the October 7 Hamas attacks in which he appeared to incite violence against Jews. The Charity Commission, which regulates charities in England and Wales, also issued a formal warning to the Nottingham Islam Information Point (NIIP), finding that it failed to uphold its responsibilities and allowed “divisive and inflammatory” rhetoric on its premises.

NEW: a Muslim charity boss who gave a sermon on killing Jews has been sanctioned by the Charity Commission after a @GBNEWS investigation pic.twitter.com/jVuKLij1tH

— Charlie Peters (@CDP1882) July 6, 2025

 

Harun Abdur Rashid Holmes, a leading figure at NIIP, came under scrutiny after preaching a sermon that referenced a controversial Hadith. He stated: “The hour will not begin until the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims will kill them until a Jew hides behind a rock or a tree. And the rock or tree will say ‘Oh Muslim... there is a Jew behind me. Come and kill him’.” He also offered prayers for the “mujahideen” in Palestine during the sermon, a term often associated with Islamic fighters.

 

 

Delivered on the charity’s property just six days after Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on southern Israel—killing more than 1,200 Jews and taking 251 hostages—Holmes’s words sparked accusations of antisemitism and incitement to violence. The regulator launched a 20-month investigation and concluded that Holmes’s sermon constituted misconduct and mismanagement, and did not further the charity’s stated aims.

 

“The sermon was inflammatory and divisive,” said Stephen Roake, assistant director of investigations and compliance at the Charity Commission. “We acted robustly and disqualified the trustee who gave the sermon. We also issued the charity with a formal warning.” Roake emphasized that in times of international conflict, “people expect charities to bring people together, not to stoke division.”

 

The commission also found that Holmes, a former care home assistant manager who was not a qualified imam, failed to provide necessary context to the Hadith he quoted, rendering his message inflammatory. Holmes later told the regulator that he accepted, in hindsight, that the Hadith was “sensitive” and that he did not provide adequate explanation.

 

During the same sermon, Holmes also told attendees not to “busy yourselves with politics and voting,” which the regulator noted could be seen as encouraging people to disengage from the democratic process. The commission determined that the sermon undermined the charity’s mission, which includes relieving poverty and promoting understanding of Islam.

 

Following the commission’s actions, NIIP issued a public apology. “Mr Holmes is not a qualified Imam and has not formally studied Islam. He was given the responsibility of the sermon at late notice and was not able to provide the necessary explanation to references used in the short timespan available. In hindsight he recognises that other references would have been more appropriate. The trustees recognise that certain portions of the sermon may have been construed in a negative light and inadvertently and unintentionally caused offence. We apologise for this.”

 

NIIP, which last reported an annual income of £59,200 and expenditures of £47,700, was established in 1997 with the aim of relieving poverty and dispelling misconceptions about Islam. The commission said the charity has since taken “positive steps to improve their governance,” including introducing a stricter events policy.

 

David Holdsworth, chief executive of the Charity Commission, commented more broadly on recent regulatory action: “Over the past few years, and particularly since the escalation of conflict in the Middle East in October 2023, we have seen charities misused to promote the personal views of those linked to the charity, in some cases inciting hate or condoning violence.” He noted that the commission had opened more than 300 such cases in the past 18 months, issued guidance in about 100 of them, and made over 70 referrals to the police.

 

“There can be no hiding place for those who seek to use charities to promote hate or harm to others,” Holdsworth added. “We won’t hesitate to take firm action to stop such wrongdoing.” Mr Holmes did not respond to requests for comment.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from NYP  2025-07-09

 

 

This guy has been punished for delivering an anti-Semitic sermon that was anti-Jewish and pro-Muslim. But I don't think he would have been punished of delivering an anti-Semitic sermon that was anti-Muslim and pro-Jewish. 😡

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

He stated: “The hour will not begin until the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims will kill them until a Jew hides behind a rock or a tree. And the rock or tree will say ‘Oh Muslim... there is a Jew behind me. Come and kill him’.”

 

Always interesting to know what they really think.

 

It will be interesting to compare his sentence to that of Lucy Connolly. When does the trial start?

He has quoted one of the hadiths that all good muslims are supposed to believe and adhere to.

Bet his audience was cheering and clapping. 

When Islam is the official state religion of England, this will be perfectly legitimate - and we only have to wait another ten years.

30 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Always interesting to know what they really think.

 

It will be interesting to compare his sentence to that of Lucy Connolly. When does the trial start?

There you again with your false equivalence…. Again.

 

30 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Always interesting to know what they really think.

 

It will be interesting to compare his sentence to that of Lucy Connolly. When does the trial start?

 

Didn't even have to open the link to know that the trustee had a beautiful British Name.

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There you again with your false equivalence…. Again.

 

A not unreasonable equivalence.

 

Lucy Connolly received a (savage) 3 year sentence for a foolish hyperbolic tweet, which she subsequently deleted.

 

This fellow preached a sermon, by definition prepared and rehearsed, calling for and justifying the killing of Jews. He is not even being prosecuted.

 

A fair comparison to make.

7 minutes ago, JAG said:

A not unreasonable equivalence.

 

Lucy Connolly received a (savage) 3 year sentence for a tweet, which she subsequently deleted.

 

As will Ricky ( Cut their throats ) Jones be another reasonable comparison / equivalence.

 

Starmer popped our a genie, that is not going back in the bottle, which is probably contributing to this

 

Actions have consequencies.

 

 

44 minutes ago, JAG said:

A not unreasonable equivalence.

 

Lucy Connolly received a (savage) 3 year sentence for a foolish hyperbolic tweet, which she subsequently deleted.

 

This fellow preached a sermon, by definition prepared and rehearsed, calling for and justifying the killing of Jews. He is not even being prosecuted.

 

A fair comparison to make.

Incitement to commit arson during an attack on a hotel full of people is not ‘foolish.

 

It’s criminal.

 

She got the justice she deserved.

 

 

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Incitement to commit arson during an attack on a hotel full of people is not ‘foolish.

 

It’s criminal.

 

When will we see the mother of the 2 Manchester Airport Kung Fu fighters up in court on the criminal charge of incitement ?
 

When will see beard y in the OP, up in Court on Criminal charges of incitement?
 

You really need to hand the keyboard back to a responsible adult.

2 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

When will we see the mother of the 2 Manchester Airport Kung Fu fighters up in court on the criminal charge of incitement ?
 

When will see beard y in the OP, up in Court on Criminal charges of incitement?
 

You really need to hand the keyboard back to a responsible adult.

We should have a thread on that.

 

This isn’t it.

 

Once again you resort to your customary ad hominem.

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

We should have a thread on that.

 

You do understand what this thread is ?
 

When is beardy going to be up in Court on criminal charges of incitement ?

 

Did the question exceed your brain capacity ?

Just now, The Cyclist said:

 

You do understand what this thread is ?
 

When is beardy going to be up in Court on criminal charges of incitement ?

 

Did the question exceed your brain capacity ?

I believe the normal procedure is somebody files a crime report, the police investigate/charge, the CPS prosecutes and then the court date is set.

 

 

Again another ad hominem.

 

 

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I believe the normal procedure is somebody files a crime report, the police investigate/charge, the CPS prosecutes and then the court date is set.

 

You believe wrong, video evidence is all that is required to ascertain that a crime has been committed.

 

So yet again, when will we see beardy up in Court on criminal charges of incitement ?
 

2 Tier Policing

 

2 Tier Justice

 

Brought to you by 2 Tier Starmer.

35 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

You believe wrong, video evidence is all that is required to ascertain that a crime has been committed.

 

So yet again, when will we see beardy up in Court on criminal charges of incitement ?
 

2 Tier Policing

 

2 Tier Justice

 

Brought to you by 2 Tier Starmer.

 

File a criminal complaint.

 

 

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

 

File a criminal complaint.

 

 

 

That wasn't what I asked you, and i explained why a complaint was not required.

 

I then made it abundantly clear why nothing has been done

 

Right here

 

41 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

2 Tier Policing

 

2 Tier Justice

 

Brought to you by 2 Tier Starmer.

 

I do not believe that you are British, so I can only draw the conclusion of why you are so vexed across various threads, is because all you can see is criticism of Muslims.

1 hour ago, The Cyclist said:

 

That wasn't what I asked you, and i explained why a complaint was not required.

 

I then made it abundantly clear why nothing has been done

 

Right here

 

 

I do not believe that you are British, so I can only draw the conclusion of why you are so vexed across various threads, is because all you can see is criticism of Muslims.

I don’t have any control over how long it takes for the criminal justice system to act.

 

Hence I suggested you file a criminal complaint and you’ll get your answer from those that do.

 

As a a member of this forum I am entitled to comment within the rules of doing so (not engaging impersonal attacks being one)

 

The absence ad hominem in my posts suggests it’s not me that’s ‘vexed’.

 

 

16 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The absence ad hominem in my posts suggests it’s not me that’s ‘vexed’.

 

The absence of any understanding of

 

1. Irony

 

2. Sarcasm

 

3. Humour

 

Suggests that you are not British.

 

But you do have a PHD in strawmen. For that you are to congratulated. Well done you.

32 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

The absence of any understanding of

 

1. Irony

 

2. Sarcasm

 

3. Humour

 

Suggests that you are not British.

 

But you do have a PHD in strawmen. For that you are to congratulated. Well done you.

I must confess that I do not fully understand many terms used in these discussions, particularly their "internet relevance" and use: gaslighting, ad hominem, strawmen and so on.

 

I do understand and can recognise attempts to defend the indefensible. Chomper is an enthusiast, some might say a pastmaster, at that!

16 hours ago, Social Media said:

He stated: “The hour will not begin until the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims will kill them until a Jew hides behind a rock or a tree. And the rock or tree will say ‘Oh Muslim... there is a Jew behind me. Come and kill him’.”

 

This is the (in)famous "Rocks and Trees Hadith" which is an explicit call for genocide against Jews.  It is widely used in Muslim sermons and cited by Muslim scholars as justification for attacks on Jews.  You can see some examples  in the video clip below.  The last guy says it pretty clearly: "We will fight them, we will defeat them, and we will annihilate them. Not a single Jew will remain on the face of the Earth."  That's what Israelis have been up against each and every day since 1948.

 

But maybe you prefer to believe the media commentators who keep telling us, "Islam is a religion of peace."

 

 

 

 

You can get more background on the "Rocks and Trees Hadith" and its use in Islamic teachings from this article:

https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/there-is-a-jew-hiding-behind-me-come-and-kill-him/