Fury has erupted after a Muslim preacher at a London mosque told worshippers that husbands should physically “discipline” their wives if they disobey them. Yasin Munye, an Islamic teacher who gives lectures at the Hackney Islamic Community Centre, said men should “lightly” hit their wives to “show them who is in charge”.
The comments were made in a series of lectures published on the mosque’s YouTube channel and have now triggered scrutiny from the Charity Commission. Mr Munye was discussing what he described as “major sins”, including a wife disobeying her husband, leaving the house without his permission or refusing him sex.
Lectures on 'major sins'
He said: “Advise her, and boycott her in bed, don't touch her in bed - and discipline them physically as well, by lightly hitting them to show them who is in charge.”
Mr Munye went on to say that if a wife continued to refuse, a husband did not have to provide her with a home. He added that a man with multiple wives could instead abandon the woman and stay with another wife “until she becomes obedient again”.
Further controversial comments
The same lecture contained further controversial comments about homosexuality. Mr Munye described gay sex as “one of the most evil acts” and “a crime”, claiming that both participants would be executed under Sharia. He said scholars differed over how such an execution should take place, with some advocating execution by sword and others saying homosexuals should be thrown from tall buildings before rocks were thrown at them.
In another lecture, mosque scholar Abu Sa'ad Muhammad Al-Iraqi appeared to criticise women for calling the police when their husbands assaulted them. Mr Al-Iraqi said it was an “unfortunate reality” in Britain that women could call the police after being slapped by their husbands. He said: “They know if you slap them once, they'll call the police for you. They don't fear Allah.”
Charity Commission investigation
The National Secular Society has reported the Hackney Islamic Community Centre to the Charity Commission, warning that the material is incompatible with its status as a registered charity. Megan Manson, head of campaigns at the NSS, said the centre had hosted lectures promoting violence against women, saying women could not refuse their husbands sex and condoning the death penalty for gay men and people accused of witchcraft.
She said: “This charitable purpose must be urgently reviewed. It is evidently facilitating the advancement of ideas which, far from benefiting the public, could fuel discrimination, division and abuse.”
The Hackney Islamic Community Centre is registered as a charity and received £191,097 in income in the year to March 2025, including almost £155,000 in direct donations. A Charity Commission spokesman said: “The Commission has clear expectations that all charities, regardless of their purpose, must operate for the public benefit and provide a safe and trusted environment for all. Concerns have been raised with us about alleged sermons and social media content linked to Hackney Islamic Community Centre and we have opened a regulatory compliance case to further assess these. This will determine any next steps.”
Masjid Daar Al-Hadeeth, another name used for the East London mosque, has been contacted for comment.
