A charity boss who was cancelled for “Islamophobia” social media post won a landmark court case in a victory for freedom of speech.
The Charity Commission disqualified Gary Mond in 2023 after some historical “anti-Muslim” posts on social media were revealed.
The committee’s decision has now been cancelled in the appeal.
This is the first time the Commission disqualifies the order.
Mr. Mond, the Jewish State Foundation (JNF UK), is a trustee who calls himself “the oldest Israeli charity in the UK” and has been 12 years since the Commission said it is investigating his position.
The committee canceled Mr. Mond as a charity trustee or senior manager for two and a half years because it said his online activities could set the charity he worked with.
It was the shortest disqualification order the commission has issued so far, but the court ruled Thursday that the order was disproportionate or unnecessary and should be revoked.
“Deemed anti-Islam”
The court said some of Mr Mond’s social media activities might be “deemed anti-Islamic” but it agreed that “Mr Mond has the right to freedom of speech.”
It also agreed that online posts dating back to 2014-2021 do not constitute “unsuitable behavior” to become trustees.
In such a post, Mr. Mond said that if a large number of Muslims were elected as labor MPs, “we know the UK that will disappear forever”.
He said in another that “civilization” is “war with Islam.” He has since clarified that he intends to mention “Islamic fundamentalism” rather than Islamic religion.
The committee also focuses on posts by other people on Facebook that Mr. Mond “liked”.
His social media campaign caught the attention of the committee after news media reported them.
Mr Mond, who spent more than £60,000 on his appeal, has been rejecting any advice that he is “Islamophobia”.
The court found that the Commission’s order was “to protect the public’s trust and confidence in the charity”, so it was undesirable to disqualify Mr. Mond.
Mr. Mond told the Telegraph: “The result of this case is a shocking result of the taxpayer’s money and my own waste, and has an infinite degree of impact on the charity committee than on me.
“As a trustee, I worked hard and acted completely right. I didn’t steal money and didn’t have any charity. What I chose to write on social media about things that I had no connection with charity shouldn’t be charity. any business of the committee.
“I hope that the power to investigate the actions of the charity committee. I am not going to resign, but I think the reputation of the committee is seriously damaged and measures are needed to prevent such behavior from happening again in government agencies.”
A spokesperson for the Charity Committee said: “The outcome of this case makes it clearer for the trustees to use social media appropriately, which underscores the best interests of all trustees, including posting in their personal capacity.”
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