The Charity Commission has banned a refugee charity’s trustee and voluntary chief executive over “divisive and inflammatory” social media posts that she made amid wider “governance failings” and concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
The Palestinian Refugee Project is a UK-based charity which was registered in 2021 to provide support to the Palestinian diaspora living in refugee camps in Lebanon.
The regulator first began investigating the charity in December 2023 over concerns relating to its social media activity, which the commission said could be interpreted as “downplaying acts of terrorism, and which tried to raise support for a change to Israel’s recognition as a state”.
While investigating the Palestinian Refugee Project’s social media posts, the regulator also identified that all of the charity’s then trustees appeared to be related, with one – Taghrid Al-Mawed-Layton – serving as CEO. This led to concerns over potential conflicts of interest.
According to the regulator, the trustees’ responses to the commission’s questions subsequently raised further concerns relating to the trustees’ “lack of understanding of their legal duties and responsibilities”.
The regulator also later established that, due to “governance failings”, Al-Mawed-Layton had sole responsibility for the charity’s social media accounts, which she used to promote the “divisive and inflammatory” content.
After the charity failed to implement a formal social media policy and its remaining trustees lacked oversight in relation to its social media activities, the commission issued an official warning and additionally disqualified Al-Mawed-Layton from being a trustee and holding a senior management position in any charity for eight years.
The charity’s accounts financial accounts for the last two years are also overdue.
Charity’s only trustee ‘failed to adhere to basic trustee duties’
Joshua Farbridge, head of compliance visits and inspections at the commission said that the regulator found “a number of serious failings” at the charity.
He said these failings placed the charity’s finances and reputation at risk, and noted that the organisation was effectively being run by “a single trustee [Al-Mawed-Layton] who either did not understand, or failed to adhere to, basic trustee duties”.
Fabridge added: “It’s important to stress that the commission does not seek to encroach on any individual’s right to freedom of speech, expression, or beliefs.
“And we recognise that events in the Middle East over recent months and years have been deeply emotive and distressing.
“However, trustees have clear legal obligations, including to act in line with the charity’s purpose and best interests, and act reasonably and prudently.
“Sadly, the good aims this charity set out to achieve was seriously undermined by the conduct and failings of its trustees.”
The Palestinian Refugee Project, which recorded an income of £2,420 in the year to April 2023, has been contacted for comment.
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