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Charity trustee accused Jews of ‘monitoring Samsung mobile phones’

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A charity trustee has accused “f***ing Jews” of monitoring all Samsung mobile phones.

The unnamed supporter of the poverty-prevention Ghulam Mustafa Trust, based in Rochdale in Lancashire, was filmed making the offensive remark earlier this year.

He accused Jews of planting microchips into Samsung phones to track photographs.

The man was recorded saying: “They are recording every photo of yours on your battery. I’m seeing if they have on mine.”

He continues: “They are recording every photograph of yours, these f***ing Jews. You should take this off. Look at that, they should not be on your phone battery.”

Communal groups have questioned the Charity Commission’s decision to let the trustee keep his position after the antisemitic comments were brought to light.

The Commission called for the video to be removed from Facebook – describing it as “unacceptable”.

A Commission spokesman said: “Our powers to remove trustees from charities are currently limited. This is why we have asked for new powers - which are currently before Parliament in the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Bill.

“The Bill will, for example, enable us to act where personal conduct affects fitness to be a trustee and it is in the public interest for us to act. “Our regulatory engagement with the charity continues.”

But Marie van der Zyl, Board of Deputies vice-president, said: “Charities must not be allowed to be used as vehicles of religious hatred and antisemitism.

“The Charity Commission needs urgent regulatory powers to be able to strip organisations, masquerading as charities, of charitable status and to take direct action against trustees.

“This is a vile abuse of our legal system and detracts from legitimate charities and if it goes unchecked will contribute to extremism and radicalisation online.”

Warning - strong language

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