Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's charity issues bombshell statement on Muslim group row

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s charity has released a new statement following the latest reports that they have cut ties with a Muslim organisation after its founder made anti-Israel comments. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Foundation has pulled funding to Milwaukee-based Muslim Women’s Coalition (MMWC), with its founder, Janan Najeeb, saying it was due to an opinion piece she had authored about Palestine.

Ms Najeeb published an opinion piece on the Wisconsin Muslim Journal back in February 2024, saying that “Israel’s 75-year occupation of Palestine and the genocide in Gaza are a grave injustice. We demand a permanent ceasefire, an end to arming the apartheid state of Israel and the liberation of Palestine.” She also included a controversial phrase for the Israeli community: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, from the sea to the river, Palestine will live forever.” But recently, it emerged that Archewell withdrew its funding from the coalition, claiming her comments “went against” the charity’s “values”.

The founder hit back at the claims, saying: “I make no apology for standing up for human rights and speaking out against dehumanisation of all people, including Palestinians.”

However, Archewell’s executive directors James Holt and Shauna Nep have issued a new bombshell statement regarding the latest axing.

They said that the charity’s funding and grant support extends to people and organisations of “all walks of life with varying political views, cultural beliefs, ideologies, and identifications”.

They said: “We do not discriminate. We believe change comes from building bridges. We welcome all.”

But they added that they do not “tolerate any form of hate speech, including hate-fueled symbols, language, or imagery—no matter the community it targets.

“Language that calls for the destruction of others, whether explicitly or implicitly, crosses a line. It is not aligned with our values: we are pro-humanity, pro-love, pro-peace, pro-equality.”

The statement concluded: “We remain deeply committed to our work with Muslim-led organisations and refugee support programs through The Welcome Project and relief efforts in Gaza.”

Ms Najeeb previously told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Archewell’s axing was part of a “broader trend” of organisations distancing themselves from pro-Palestinian views “for fear of retribution”.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been contacted for comment.