A London mosque is facing regulatory scrutiny after an Islamic teacher was recorded telling men they could physically discipline their wives, including by lightly hitting them to demonstrate who was in charge.
Yasin Munye, a teacher at Hackney Islamic Community Centre in east London, made the comments in a recorded lecture published on the mosque's YouTube channel in 2023, according to reports. The National Secular Society (NSS) has since referred the charity to the Charity Commission over the sermons.
The Charity Commission has confirmed that it has opened a regulatory compliance case to assess concerns about sermons and social media content linked to the Hackney Islamic Community Centre. The regulator said the case would determine what further action, if any, should be taken.
Imam's Comments About 'Disobedient' Wives
In the lecture, Munye discussed what he described as major sins and referred to situations in which a wife disobeyed her husband.
According to footage reported by The Times, Munye said husbands should first advise their wives and then withdraw from them in bed before physically disciplining them. He described this as lightly hitting wives to show them who was in charge.
The examples he discussed included a wife refusing intimacy without what he considered an excuse and leaving the home without her husband's permission.
Munye also discussed relationships involving multiple wives, saying a husband could leave one wife and remain with another until the first became obedient again, according to the reported recording.
The comments have become the focus of a complaint to the Charity Commission, with the NSS arguing that the material raises concerns about the environment created by the charity and the content made available through its platforms.
Charity Commission Opens Regulatory Case
The Charity Commission said it had received concerns about alleged sermons and social media content associated with Hackney Islamic Community Centre.
The regulator said all charities, regardless of purpose, are expected to operate for the public benefit and provide a safe and trusted environment. It confirmed that a regulatory compliance case had been opened to assess the concerns and determine the appropriate next steps.
The opening of a regulatory compliance case does not itself mean that the Charity Commission has concluded that the allegations are proven or that a statutory inquiry has been opened. The centre has also been approached for comment on the allegations. As of the latest reports, no response has been published.
Other Sermons Also Raise Concerns
The complaint does not relate only to the comments about wives.
The NSS also raised concerns about other material published through the mosque's online channels. One of the recordings reportedly included Munye discussing homosexuality and describing same-sex sexual activity as a serious crime under his interpretation of Islamic law.
According to reports of the video, he discussed the death penalty as a punishment under Sharia and referred to different methods of execution. The NSS included those comments in its complaint to the Charity Commission.
Another recording reportedly featured Abu Sa'ad Muhammad, another teacher associated with the centre, discussing women's obligations towards their husbands. He was reported as saying that women should remain kind to their husbands even when mistreated and referring to the possibility of wives contacting police after being hit.
The videos were reportedly published in 2023, when the organisation was known by a previous name, Masjid Imam an-Nawawi. Reports say the material was later removed following the concerns raised with the regulator.
Hackney Islamic Community Centre's Charity Status
Hackney Islamic Community Centre is a registered charity in England and Wales. According to the Charity Commission's register, its charitable objectives include advancing the Islamic faith for the public benefit through a community centre and mosque, as well as supporting the education of Muslim children through supplementary education and recreational facilities.
The charity's registered area of operation is London, with its listed address on Homerton High Street in Hackney.
Its latest available financial records show total income of £191,097 for the year ending March 2025, with expenditure of £171,539. The Charity Commission's register states that the organisation's reporting is up to date.
The charity has previously operated under names including An-Nawawi Centre, Darul-Mustafa Trust, Masjid an-Nawawi and Masjid Imam an-Nawawi, according to the official register.
Investigation Will Determine Next Steps
The Charity Commission's current action is focused on assessing the concerns raised about the sermons and related online material.
The regulator has not stated that a full statutory inquiry has been opened. Instead, its compliance case will be used to assess the allegations and determine whether further regulatory action is necessary.
The case follows increasing scrutiny of religious organisations over material published online and the responsibilities of registered charities when hosting speakers or distributing religious teachings.
The Charity Commission's assessment remains ongoing, while the Hackney Islamic Community Centre has not publicly responded to the reported allegations.
