Manchester Mosque Rejects Misinformation Campaign Over Sharia Job Ad
The job listing appeared on the UK government's “Find a Job” website and was connected to the Manchester Islamic Centre (MIC), also known as Didsbury Mosque. The post, offering £23,500 per year, described administrative support for the Manchester Shariah Council. It was later removed after igniting a misinformation campaign by the right-wing political figures and commentators.
Far-right voices quickly seized on the listing to claim the UK was endorsing a “parallel legal system.” Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted on X that “our country and its values are being destroyed,” alongside a screenshot of the advert. Independent MP Rupert Lowe questioned the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), saying the UK “does not have or want Shariah law.”
In response, Didsbury Mosque issued a statement strongly condemning the attacks. It said members of the far-right had “deliberately misinformed the public to incite hate and for political gain or out of ignorance.”
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The mosque clarified that the job was not a government-funded position. Instead, it was a community-funded role posted by a registered charity, with the DWP acting only as a platform. “The DWP advertises many jobs to help people obtain employment. It is an administrative role... open to anyone to apply,” the statement read.
The statement stressed that the mosque functions entirely within British law and does not promote any form of parallel legal system.
Sharia councils in the UK have no legal authority and operate solely to provide guidance and arbitration on religious and civil matters.
“The term Sharia law is misleading,” the mosque said, explaining that the Manchester Shariah Council offers “civil arbitration and religious guidance,” not legal rulings. Under the Arbitration Act 1996, British citizens are permitted to resolve civil disputes through agreed third-party arbitration, which must comply with national law.
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The mosque also addressed false claims circulated online, including a suggestion that it would impose taxes on non-Muslims. It described these posts as “incorrect, inflammatory and xenophobic,” adding that such content has been reported to the police.
The mosque announced that the advertisement will be reworded “to avoid future misunderstanding.”
A DWP spokesperson confirmed the post was submitted by an independent charity and not by the department itself. “Robust processes are in place to ensure all adverts on Find a Job meet strict guidelines,” the spokesperson said.
Source: Agencies
