The Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) has always denied being an extremist organisation, yet there can be little dispute as to the extremist views of its most “significant” director.

Anas Altikriti, who was president of the MAB from 2004 to 2005, has described the mass slaughter and rape of Israeli citizens on Oct 7 2023 as “a lie” and called the taking of hostages “a very important part” of any “act of resistance”.

The MAB has tried to distance itself from Mr Altikriti, saying he “does not speak for, nor represent the views of the MAB”.

Yet Companies House lists Mr Altikriti as not only a current director of the MAB, but also the only director designated as a “person with significant control” of the organisation.

The MAB was founded by Muhammad Kathem Sawalha, the former Hamas chief, and was one of the groups that organised a pro-Palestine march in London on Armistice Day, a month after the Oct 7 massacre.