'I've done nothing wrong' says man criticised for making 'divisive' speech

TRUSTEE OF ISLAMIC CHARITY BANNED FOR 'INFLAMMATORY' SERMON

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

A NOTTINGHAM man criticised by the charity regulator for an “inflammatory” sermon in the wake of the Hamas attacks in Israel, claims he has done nothing wrong.

The Charity Commission said Harun Adbur Rashid Holmes, who was a trustee at the Islam Information Centre, in Bovill Street, Radford, delivered a religious speech in October 2023, shortly after the October 7 attacks in Israel.

It contained language such as “the hour will not begin until the Muslims fight the Jews” and “the Muslims will kill them until a Jew hides behind a rock or a tree”.

The commission has disqualified Mr Holmes from serving in a senior position at any charity for three years.

The sermon also included statements which the commission says could be seen as encouraging people not to vote or to disengage from the democratic process, calling on attendees not to “busy yourselves with politics and voting”.

Mr Holmes has spoken publicly for the first time since the Charity Commission published its report and he says his comments have been “taken out of context”.