The charity’s X account re-posted a comment from Chris Williamson stating, “Zionism must be confronted and defeated”.
Another post shared by Al-Mawed-Layton in 2022 stated, “Armed resistance of occupation is legal, not terrorism”.
In an X post on Thursday, Al-Mawed-Layton shared an image which stated: “It is not antisemitic to hate genocide”. In another post, also this week, she wrote about the dead in Gaza, saying: “The people being killed are semites. The people doing the killing are not.”
On Facebook last month, she shared an image of the US flag with a Magen David in one corner. Neither this post nor those shared on X this week were done in the charity’s name.
Taghrid Al-Mawed recently shared a post on Facebook depicting a Star of David on the American flag (Poto: Facebook screenshot)[Missing Credit]
Al-Mawed-Layton, who describes herself as a “Nakba survivor” born in the Palestinian diaspora in Lebanon, has been forbidden by the Charity Commission from holding any management positions in UK charities for eight years.
The regulator cited her “role in mismanagement and / or misconduct of the charity, including social media activity on behalf of the charity.”
While investigating the charity, the Commission also found that all of the charity’s then trustees appeared to be related, “giving rise to concerns about potential conflicts of interest”.
It found that trustees “lacked an understanding of their legal duties and responsibilities, including the importance of trustees acting and making decisions collectively.”
The Palestinian Refugee Project was registered as a UK charity in 2021 and claims to provide support to Palestinians living in refugee camps. The charity’s financial accounts are overdue. In the financial year ending April 2023, it had a total income of £2,419.
Joshua Farbridge, head of compliance visits and inspections at the Charity Commission said: “We found a number of serious failings at Palestinian Refugee Project, which put the charity’s finances and reputation at risk. The charity, in effect, was being run by a single trustee who either did not understand, or failed to adhere to, basic trustee duties.
“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.”
Responding to the JC’s request, Al-Mawed-Layton, who was not speaking on behalf of the charity, said: “There was an error in how I held the position as trustee. That was not in any way dishonest. Nobody, including the public, was affected and funds were never abused or misused.
“It is not unusual for a small charity with so little income to have a delay in reporting. In any case with the matter now resolved with the Charity Commission the charity is currently in the process of appointing new trustees in order to facilitate this administrative task.
She accused the JC of being “selective and aimed at no doubt trying to character assassinate me and the charity.”
Regarding her social media activity, Al-Mawed-Layton said: “The posts remain legal and are a free expression of opinion, including the legally held right of holding a belief in anti-Zionism that has found core support with the majority of the British public.
“It is clear that there is no right to exist for any state, including Israel. This is a factually correct statement. Any state in existence at present, just is, but that doesn’t mean it has a right to exist.
“There is nothing wrong with the comment ‘Zionism must be confronted and defeated'. It is a legitimate and moral position to hold.
“There is nothing wrong with the comment ‘armed resistance of occupation is legal, not terrorism.’ It is a legitimate and moral position enshrined in International Law and applicable to the Occupied Palestinian Territories. You will be aware of the UN Resolution that enshrines the same.
“Regarding the comment, ‘it is not antisemitic to hate genocide’. This is absolutely a moral position and correct legal position to hold. It is in reference to the few commentators, with [the JC] at the forefront, seeking to weaponise antisemitism and use it to gloss over the very real genocide that I believe is happening in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
“Regarding the statement ‘the people being killed are semites. The people doing the killing are not’. I make clear that the majority of Israelis claiming Semitic roots are actually found to have European or roots other than those of the semites that are Arab.”
The JC approached the Palestinian Refugee Project for comment.
