The Central Oxford Mosque Society has received an official warning from the Charity Commission for England and Wales over controversial social media activity in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. The regulator cited the mosque’s failure to prevent the dissemination of “divisive and inflammatory content” through its online platforms.
According to the Commission’s findings, several posts were published on the mosque’s social media accounts that did not align with its charitable objectives. Among them were messages offering guidance for individuals arrested at protests, promotional content for a specific legal firm, and politically charged cartoons criticizing media coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The Commission expressed concern that these posts had the potential to fuel community tensions during a highly sensitive period. At the time of the incident, the mosque reportedly lacked a formal social media policy to guide its digital communications.
“Charities play a vital role in bringing communities together—particularly in times of international crisis,” said Stephen Roake, a senior official from the Charity Commission. “It is essential that they act responsibly and avoid content that could incite division.”
He further added that the mosque’s trustees failed to implement safeguards to protect the charity’s reputation, exposing it to significant reputational risk.
The regulator concluded that the posts in question extended beyond the mosque’s charitable remit and deemed at least two of them as both inflammatory and inappropriate. As a result, the mosque has been instructed to implement corrective measures, including the adoption of a robust social media governance policy.
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The Commission noted that since the warning was issued, the mosque’s leadership has begun to take steps to rectify the issues raised and to improve oversight of its communication channels.
The controversy arose in the wake of a violent escalation in the Middle East. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a deadly assault on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages. In response, the Israeli military initiated a sustained offensive in Gaza. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 60,000 people have died since then, including 154 victims of malnutrition—among them 89 children.
While tensions remain high globally over the ongoing conflict, the Charity Commission underscored the role of UK-based organizations in promoting peace and unity, rather than amplifying discord.
The Central Oxford Mosque Society has not yet publicly commented on the warning.
