Mosques in Britain Accused of Political Endorsements

A significant official from the Green Party has acknowledged that some mosques in Britain are breaching guidelines against endorsing political candidates by backing Green Party members.

Asma Alam, a Manchester City Councillor involved in the recent successful by-election for Hannah Spencer as a Green MP for Gorton & Denton, indicated that mosques were openly disregarding Charity Commission regulations by endorsing Green candidates.

At a fringe event during a Green Party Conference, Alam shared her thoughts, explaining that endorsements from mosques are quite challenging—and practically impossible—due to their charitable status, which prohibits political endorsements. She mentioned that while some mosques had backed out of endorsing candidates, one specific mosque in Manchester took a stand and officially announced their support for the Greens.

Alam remarked that this mosque had publicly declared, “vote Green, break free,” suggesting a growing dissatisfaction with Labour’s performance, prompting some mosques to break from tradition. “Complicity is enough,” she added, hinting at a more significant shift this year.

In the UK, many mosques, regarded as charities, are expected to adhere to regulations regarding political neutrality. The Charity Commission confirmed it is looking into Alam’s claims following a tip-off from the Green conference.

Traditionally, elections occur on Thursdays in Britain for several reasons, including the influence of weekend activities involving pubs and religious services on Sundays. This cultural backdrop adds complexity to the relationship between religion and politics.

The by-election that propelled Spencer to her seat faced allegations of “family voting,” where older males supposedly accompanied family members to ensure their votes aligned with the family’s preferred candidate. Some noted this trend was particularly prevalent within the area’s significant Muslim community.

In response to Alam’s remarks, a Green Party spokesperson dismissed her comments as “anecdotal,” insisting that neither she nor the party had ever encouraged or facilitated any violations of the law. They clarified that Alam’s references to “under cover” support meant individuals showing personal political support, not official endorsements, and stated they were unaware of any formal endorsements by mosques.

This revelation from the Green official came as the party faced backlash after approving a motion at its annual conference, categorizing Zionism as racism. The vote, initiated by Greens for Palestine, passed with 1,022 in favor and 813 against, reflecting a division within the party between traditional environmentalists and more recently integrated Islamic members, especially heightened post-conflict in Gaza.

Although Green leader Zack Polanski was not present during the vote, he voiced opposition unless certain amendments were made regarding the definition of a single Palestinian state and the treatment of Jewish party members. Nevertheless, he ultimately supported branding Zionism as racism, explaining his stance based on how Zionism impacts the Palestinian people.

The state of Israel responded by declaring that Polanski would be barred from entry, suggesting that the Greens’ stance mirrored views aligned with Hamas, specifically regarding calls for the “elimination of Israel.” Meanwhile, Polanski’s bid to become a Parliamentarian fell short in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, as he secured a distant second, leading to speculation about his leadership stability amidst internal party tensions.