The man now at the helm of the UK’s largest Syrian aid group has been repeatedly pictured at high-level meetings, and with prominent politicians, since his dismissal from British Muslim charity Human Appeal.
In January this year Othman Moqbel, chief executive of Syria Relief in Manchester, withdrew a grievance procedure against his former employer following his departure after eight years.
The former chief executive was suspended from his job in late 2017 and dismissed a few months later.
In December 2017, the charity referred itself to the Charity Commission, which launched a statutory inquiry.
I have always insisted on the utmost transparency in our work
Greater Manchester Police told The National that it had closed a criminal inquiry into the activity at the charity but pending the outcome of the Charity Commission's report it could still take action.
Mr Moqbel issued a statement after his departure: “I have always taken my responsibilities to our donors, staff and beneficiaries extremely seriously and to suggest otherwise is not only utterly wrong, it is also deeply hurtful.
“I have always insisted on the utmost transparency in our work.”
He is a prominent figure in the UK charity scene. He has attended major political party conferences and met leading ministers and opposition members.
Last year he posted a picture of himself on Twitter with former secretary of state for international development, Alok Sharma, who is now Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Mr Sharma refused to comment on the meeting and his former department has not responded to queries about the meeting.
Mr Moqbel tweeted that the pair enjoyed a positive encounter on the sidelines of the annual Conservative Party conference.
“I had a good meeting with Alok Sharma, the Secretary of State for International Development, about how DFID can do more for Syrian [internally displaced people] and to make sure the unravelling Syrian crisis is still on the government agenda,” he tweeted from the conference.
It marked a reversal in fortunes. In 2015 the Conservatives barred Mr Moqbel from speaking at their party conference.
A week before meeting Mr Sharma, he had attended the Labour Party conference in September and was photographed with former opposition party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Mr Corbyn appeared to be having a cup of tea as he chatted with Mr Moqbel.
"Our chief executive Othman Moqbel talking to Jeremy Corbyn about the findings of our report into the impact of air strikes on Syrian schools," the charity tweeted.
The charity has held high-profile fundraisers and meetings that have featured MPs active on the humanitarian plight of Syria, which has been racked by nine years of civil war.
They included the former development secretary, Andrew Mitchell.
Mr Moqbel has also been prominent among those attending Syria-related events on conflict resolution and reconstruction, including the landmark Brussels III forum last year.
While working for Human Appeal, Mr Moqbel was also a trustee and treasurer of the Muslim Charities Forum, until he resigned in May 2018.
The UK government withdrew a contract from the MCF in 2014 over concerns about some of its member groups had hosted hate preachers.
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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