A charity trustee who was previously disqualified by the Charity Commission for alleged Islamophobia has spoken out about the fear he has for free speech in Britain and how many are fearful of speaking openly.
Gary Mond, who successfully appealed against his disqualification and became the first person ever to do so, has spoken out after he was censured for posting about the threat of Islamic extremism and political Islam.
As a trustee of Jewish National Fund UK (JNF UK), he was disqualified from acting as a charity trustee or senior manager for two and a half years in 2023.
The decision to disqualify Mond was made by the commission after several historical social media posts made by him were perceived as being Islamophobic.
However, the commission’s decision was later overturned on appeal, marking the first time that the regulator has had a disqualification order reversed.
Speaking of his journey in our exclusive 'Silenced' series for GBN members, he explained: "I was a trustee of the Jewish National Fund, which is a pro-Israel organisation. I also served on representing the JNF, on the Board of Deputies of British Jews, where I became senior vice president of that organisation in 2021.
"However, there were many who did not like my presence there and were doing their damnedest to get rid of me.
"They essentially do not accept my views as being valid, even though there are many, many people of Jewish community agree with me. They didn't like my views representing the Board of Deputies or representing the Jewish community."
He explains: "What I said was that if we have a situation where the majority of members of parliament are Muslims and act in a sectarian manner such as this, the Britain we know will have gone forever.
"But here's the important point. I was relatively prescient. This is ten years before 5 or 6 members of Parliament were elected entirely on sectarian reasons."
Speaking on the accusations, Mond said: "I do not care how many Muslims there are in Britain. What I care about is the behaviour and whether there is Islamist intolerance. That's what I care about. The number is not important. What is important is the level of tolerance for everyone."
He warned that the disqualification should have never have happened and that people's opinions should not be policed if they are clear and just opinions.
He added: "It is totally irrelevant what I say on social media or anywhere else, frankly.
"If I say something that slanders somebody, that's a different ballgame.
"Then you go into the slander and libel territory, which is law.
"But just to give you an opinion. It is not their business."
He warned of discussion of proposed blasphemy laws, adding: "And I hope to God we never, ever have any form of blasphemy. Or phobia law which is being threatened? And I hope that President Trump or Vice President Vance were able to tell the Prime Minister that he must not do that."
Gary does have a renewed sense of optimism about the future and the ability for others to speak up and not be afraid, he added: "The way that should change is that we should all support each other where we have common objectives.
"And fighting anti-Semitism should be a common objective."
WATCH FULL INTERVIEW WITH GARY MOND ABOVE
Find Out More...
Gary Mond, who successfully appealed against his disqualification and became the first person ever to do so, has spoken out after he was censured for posting about the threat of Islamic extremism and political Islam.
As a trustee of Jewish National Fund UK (JNF UK), he was disqualified from acting as a charity trustee or senior manager for two and a half years in 2023.
The decision to disqualify Mond was made by the commission after several historical social media posts made by him were perceived as being Islamophobic.
However, the commission’s decision was later overturned on appeal, marking the first time that the regulator has had a disqualification order reversed.
Speaking of his journey in our exclusive 'Silenced' series for GBN members, he explained: "I was a trustee of the Jewish National Fund, which is a pro-Israel organisation. I also served on representing the JNF, on the Board of Deputies of British Jews, where I became senior vice president of that organisation in 2021.
"However, there were many who did not like my presence there and were doing their damnedest to get rid of me.
"They essentially do not accept my views as being valid, even though there are many, many people of Jewish community agree with me. They didn't like my views representing the Board of Deputies or representing the Jewish community."
He explains: "What I said was that if we have a situation where the majority of members of parliament are Muslims and act in a sectarian manner such as this, the Britain we know will have gone forever.
"But here's the important point. I was relatively prescient. This is ten years before 5 or 6 members of Parliament were elected entirely on sectarian reasons."
Speaking on the accusations, Mond said: "I do not care how many Muslims there are in Britain. What I care about is the behaviour and whether there is Islamist intolerance. That's what I care about. The number is not important. What is important is the level of tolerance for everyone."
He warned that the disqualification should have never have happened and that people's opinions should not be policed if they are clear and just opinions.
He added: "It is totally irrelevant what I say on social media or anywhere else, frankly.
"If I say something that slanders somebody, that's a different ballgame.
"Then you go into the slander and libel territory, which is law.
"But just to give you an opinion. It is not their business."
He warned of discussion of proposed blasphemy laws, adding: "And I hope to God we never, ever have any form of blasphemy. Or phobia law which is being threatened? And I hope that President Trump or Vice President Vance were able to tell the Prime Minister that he must not do that."
Gary does have a renewed sense of optimism about the future and the ability for others to speak up and not be afraid, he added: "The way that should change is that we should all support each other where we have common objectives.
"And fighting anti-Semitism should be a common objective."
WATCH FULL INTERVIEW WITH GARY MOND ABOVE
Find Out More...