UK watchdog probes prominent Islamic aid charity over Hamas connections, funding

The UK Charity Commission is investigating the prominent Muslim charity Al-Khair Foundation due to serious concerns about alleged connections to Hamas and the funding of the group. The regulator escalated its engagement to a statutory inquiry after receiving a complaint last month. This action follows the recent arrest and extradition of an Al-Khair Foundation employee, Mohammad Yousef Hasna, to the US on charges of conspiring to provide material support to Hamas.

The Commission stated it is examining all relevant information, including Hasna's connection to the charity and broader allegations. The US Department of Justice indicated Hasna provided financing through what was identified as a "Sham Charity," which The Telegraph found to be Al-Khair in the indictment. The FBI indictment also noted that Al-Khair's gross income "nearly doubled following the October 7 Hamas Massacres," increasing from £31.28 million to £74.79 million in the financial year ending July 31, 2025.

Given the potential risk to charitable funds, the UK Charity Commission has imposed a legal order restricting certain financial transactions without its prior consent. The inquiry aims to determine the charity's links to Hasna, verify if trustees conducted adequate due diligence on international partners, and assess their monitoring of fund usage abroad. The Commission, as a charity regulator, cannot investigate criminal matters but will refer any evidence of criminal activity to the police. Separately, Counter Terror Policing London confirmed its own investigations into the charity, executing two search warrants in Croydon, South London. Al-Khair Foundation stated it is fully cooperating with the inquiry.