RELIGIOUS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – The Muslim Council of Britain is calling for a review into the “arbitrary closure” of bank accounts belonging to Muslim individuals and Muslim organizations.
In a letter to the prime minister, chancellor of the exchequer, leaders of opposition parties, and the permanent secretary to the treasury, the MCB highlights cases where there has not been “adequate transparency and recourse for those affected”.
Zara Mohammed, the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said it seeks “an impartial review that not only addresses the mechanisms behind bank account closures but also examines why British Muslims are disproportionately affected by this issue”.
A Financial Conduct Authority survey found that the highest proportion of those who were “unbanked” were Muslims.
The MCB says universal banking rights must be protected, irrespective of religious or cultural backgrounds and political views.