Preacher at London mosque encourages Muslims to beat their wives to ‘discipline’ them because of a shocking reason

A preacher at a London mosque has come under criticism after reportedly telling men that they could physically discipline their wives if they considered them disobedient.

According to the report, Yasin Munye made the remarks during a lecture uploaded to the YouTube channel of the Hackney Islamic Community Centre. The centre has charitable status and regularly shares religious talks online.

During the lecture, Munye read from Manthumatu al-Kaba’ir, a religious poem that lists acts considered major sins. While discussing marriage, he described a wife disobeying her husband, leaving home without his permission or refusing intimacy without an excuse as examples of wrongdoing.

He then advised husbands to speak to their wives, avoid intimacy with them and physically discipline them. His reported comments included telling men to hit their wives lightly to demonstrate their authority.

The remarks have raised concerns about the messages being shared through an organisation registered as a charity. Critics argue that religious teaching should not be used to encourage control, intimidation or violence within marriage.

The report also highlighted other statements made in lectures published on the centre’s channel. In one, Munye described sexual acts between people of the same sex as a serious religious offence and discussed execution under Sharia law. He referred to differences among scholars over how such punishment would be carried out.

Another lecture reportedly showed him praising Saudi Arabia for executing people accused of witchcraft. These statements form part of the wider concerns raised about the centre’s online content.

The National Secular Society has reported the mosque to the Charity Commission. It argues that the teachings highlighted in its complaint are incompatible with the public benefit expected of a charitable organisation.

Megan Manson, the society’s head of campaigns, criticised the centre’s charitable registration and called for a review of the rules that allow organisations to qualify as charities through the advancement of religion.

She argued that this charitable purpose could allow organisations to promote views that encourage discrimination, division and abuse rather than benefit the wider public. Her criticism focused on what the society described as harmful teachings about women and gay people.

According to the report, the Hackney Islamic Community Centre re-registered its charitable status in April. Its published accounts recorded an income of £191,097 for the year ending in March 2025, with almost £155,000 coming from donations.

The report also drew attention to the tax exemptions associated with its charitable status. However, the financial figures alone do not establish wrongdoing. The complaint centres on whether the organisation’s activities and published content meet the standards required of a charity.

The centre describes its purpose as helping humanity through the advancement of the Islamic faith. Critics have questioned how that stated purpose fits with the statements highlighted in the lectures.

The Charity Commission confirmed that it had received concerns about sermons and social media content linked to the centre. It said it had opened a regulatory compliance case to assess the allegations and decide what action, if any, should follow.

The regulator said every charity, whatever its purpose, must operate for the public benefit and provide a safe and trusted environment. Its assessment will determine the next steps. Opening a compliance case does not itself mean that the commission has reached a finding against the centre or launched a statutory inquiry.

The report also referred to an earlier case involving Ahmed Shah, a preacher at Hatch End Islamic Centre in north London. In a sermon that was later deleted, Shah reportedly said women were required to serve their husbands.

In that case, the Charity Commission chose to provide advice and guidance rather than remove the organisation’s charitable status. The National Secular Society’s complaint about the Hackney centre has renewed debate over how the regulator responds to controversial religious teaching.

GB News said it had approached the Hackney Islamic Community Centre for comment. No response from the centre was included in the supplied report.