London Bridges Charity Under Fire for Grant to Muslim Group With Trustee Alleged Hamas Ties
City Bridge Foundation faces scrutiny over a £1.17 million grant to the Muslim Charities Forum, whose treasurer is also linked to an organization under investigation for alleged Hamas connections.
A London-based charity responsible for maintaining iconic bridges, including Tower Bridge and London Bridge, is facing criticism for awarding a substantial grant to a Muslim umbrella organization whose treasurer has alleged ties to Hamas. The City Bridge Foundation (CBF), which manages a £1.5 billion endowment, granted £1.17 million in 2023 to the Muslim Charities Forum (MCF).
MCF's treasurer, Shuaib Yusaf, also heads the Al-Khair Foundation (AKF), an organization currently under investigation by the Charity Commission in the UK for alleged links to Hamas. AKF is known for its relief work in Gaza.
The Charity Commission's probe into AKF focuses on whether the organization and its partners have connections to the designated terrorist group and have provided it with funding. The Mail reported in August that the investigation was launched following claims of these alleged links.
Adding to the scrutiny, a former employee of an AKF partner charity in Gaza, Mohammad Yousef Hasna, was arrested in the UK in July. US prosecutors have charged Hasna with conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, conspiring to finance terrorism, and financing terrorism. The FBI alleges that Hasna used a charity to funnel millions of dollars in aid to Hamas, with the scale of AKF's financial growth after the October 7 attacks being a key part of the investigation.
US legal documents claim AKF's gross income nearly doubled from approximately $41.8 million in 2023 to $81.56 million in 2024, reaching about $100 million for the year ending July 31, 2025. AKF's own accounts show similar figures, with income rising from £31 million in 2023 to £75 million last year.
MCF stated that none of the grant money from CBF went to AKF and that any funding received supports MCF's programs and activities in the UK, such as training for grassroots organizations. MCF also noted that Yusaf has voluntarily stepped back from his roles as treasurer and trustee pending the outcome of the Charity Commission's inquiry.
AKF has denied any links to or funding of proscribed organizations and stated it self-referred to the Charity Commission following Hasna's arrest. The organization is cooperating with the statutory inquiry and has appointed an independent consultant.
Critics have argued that the CBF's substantial endowment, which originated from historical tolls and rents, could be better utilized to address the maintenance needs of other bridges in the capital that are reportedly in disrepair. The CBF, however, maintains that its primary purpose is the maintenance of the five bridges it is responsible for and that surplus funds are used for charitable activities benefiting Londoners, with all grants rigorously checked and monitored.