

UK media reported on Wednesday that HSBC, Britain's and Europe's biggest bank by market value, sent letters of notice to the affected clients earlier this month.

According to reports, the bank told some Muslim clients that to continue providing services would be outside the bank’s “risk appetite.”

Among the Muslim groups, which have received a notice is one of London’s largest mosques at Finsbury Park.

Khalid Oumar, one of the mosque’s trustees, questioned the motive, as the bank did not give “any reason why the accounts were closed in the first place,” adding, "That has led us to believe that the only reason this has happened is because of an Islamophobic campaign targeting Muslim charities in the UK."

Another affected organization, Ummah Welfare trust, received a similar notice from HSBC on July 22.

Mohammed Ahmad, who runs the trust, said the bank’s representative did not explained why HSBC had decided to close its accounts.

However, Ahmad said he believed it was due to the trust’s work in the Gaza Strip, where it has been present for 10 years, providing "ambulances, food aid, medical aid, and grants."

Meanwhile, UK’s Charities Commission has confirmed that it is not investigating any of the affected organizations.

AM/