Q&A: Islamic Relief, anti-Semitism, and humanitarian impartiality

In July, the United Kingdom’s largest Muslim charity — Islamic Relief Worldwide — was rocked by revelations that two trustees and one senior executive had posted anti-Semitic comments on social media.

All three individuals acknowledged their comments were unacceptable and immediately resigned, but the episode fed a narrative pushed by some governments, think tanks, and online commentators that Islamic Relief has an ulterior political agenda. The same allegations have seen IRW labeled a terrorist organization by Israel and led the U.S. Department of State to cut ties in the last days of former President Donald Trump’s administration.

In response to the events last summer, Islamic Relief Worldwide appointed an independent commission, led by former U.K. Attorney General Dominic Grieve, to review its internal policies and governance.

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