​Charity which defended Jihadi John successfully challenges ruling which stopped its funding

England’s Charity Commission may have overstepped its powers by pressuring funders to stop financing a controversial charity.

A judicial review has been ordered on the commission’s decision to force the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) and the Roddick Foundation to stop funding Cage, an advocacy charity which publicly defended Jihadi John – real name Mohammed Emwazi – the notorious British born Islamic State (IS) terrorist.

Cage claims the move was more than the commission’s powers allowed as a regulator under England’s 2011 Charity Act, grounds the High Court deemed arguable.

It means the parties have until mid-September to submit any further evidence with the case heard later in the year in the divisional court.

The commission had said it asked both charities what money they had given to Cage and requested that no more grants be awarded.

The rule of law remains an ideal worth striving for in the interests of good government

"Given the nature of Cage’s work, and the controversy it has attracted, the Charity Commission has been concerned that such funding risked damaging public trust and confidence in charity,” it said at the time.

JRCT made awards to Cage of £305,000 between 2007 and 2014, of which £271,250 was paid. The Roddick Foundation made grant payments of £120,000 between 2009 and 2012.

Dr Adnan Siddiqui, the director of Cage, said: “We are pleased at this decision. The rule of law remains an ideal worth striving for in the interests of good government and peace at home and abroad.

“The Charity Commission’s actions against Cage have sent a chill through the charity sector, and this is a welcome step in the right direction for all members of civil society.”