Mosques could lose security funding due to social media use - Hyphen

"The Home Office has warned faith organisations applying for public funding to improve security that their applications could be rejected if they "undermine the work" of the government or share the wrong posts on social media. Places of worship and faith organisations can apply for financial help to beef up their security through various government initiatives, including the protective security for mosques scheme, which dishes out £40m annually."

"The code states that organisations "must be careful not to bring themselves into disrepute or otherwise undermine the work of the Home Office or wider government". It does not give examples of posts that could cross the line, or explain who would make such a determination, and the Home Office did not respond to Hyphen's requests for clarification."

"The code of conduct also warns recipients about political language and the "legitimisation and endorsement of extremists", and says that they should be cautious about reposting other people's comments on social media and "consider whether social media is an appropriate forum for discussing particular issues"."

"It suggests that mosques whose representatives criticise the scheme itself could find themselves refused help with safety measures, saying they should "be careful that neither their official social media channels, nor those of i"

Faith organisations applying for government security funding can have applications rejected if they are judged to undermine government work or bring themselves into disrepute. The Home Office’s new code of conduct requires recipients to avoid political language and to avoid legitimising or endorsing extremists. It warns organisations to be cautious when reposting comments on social media and to consider whether social media is an appropriate forum for discussing particular issues. Funding includes protective security for mosques, with £40m annually, and ministers reported £73.4m in protective funding available for faith groups amid a surge in hate crime. The code does not provide examples of disallowed posts or explain how decisions are made.

Read at Hyphen