Shocking Probe: Charity Regulator Investigates Mosque for Praising Ayatollah

The charity regulator, the Charity Commission, has launched an investigation into Al-Hussain Masjid in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, following concerns over a conference it hosted in honour of the late Iranian religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The event, titled ‘The Shohada [Martyrs] Conference’, took place on Sunday, August 16, and was publicly billed as ‘a special evening commemorating the life, sacrifice and legacy of the martyred leader’.

Footage and social media content related to the conference, reviewed by the Manchester Evening News, has been submitted to the Charity Commission. During the event, Sayyid Haider Hassanain delivered a lecture specifically titled ‘Sayyid Khamenei: A life of lessons for today’. Al-Hussain Masjid is operated by the Shia Welfare Association (SWA), which holds registered charity status in the UK and also manages the Abul Fadhl Youth (AFY) movement program. The controversial event was actively promoted on AFY’s social media channels.

A spokesperson for the Charity Commission affirmed its commitment to addressing the misuse of charities for promoting hostile state interests or extremism. The regulator stated, "We are aware of concerns about an event that allegedly took place at Shia Welfare Association, also known as Al-Hussain Mosque, as well as concerns about past comments made by an invited speaker. We are assessing information available to us to determine any appropriate action or response." It is important to note that, as of now, there is no suggestion that the mosque has committed any crimes.

The timing of this investigation coincides with heightened scrutiny of UK charities and organizations suspected of having links to the Iranian regime, which the UK government officially classifies as a hostile state actor due to its continuous state-backed threats, espionage, and security violations. Ayatollah Khamenei, who served as Iran's supreme leader since 1989, died on February 28 following US and Israeli airstrikes. In his final days, the 86-year-old reportedly oversaw a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths by regime forces. While praising Khamenei is not inherently illegal, the context of his political actions and Iran's designation as a hostile state adds complexity to the situation.

In March, the Charity Commission updated its guidance to charities regarding the evolving situation in Iran, issuing warnings to trustees about risks associated with political activity and the potential for charities to be exploited for extremist purposes. The regulator has also advocated for enhanced legal powers, including the ability to shut down what it terms "rogue charities," arguing that existing legislation is insufficient to effectively address non-profits accused of ties to the Iranian state.

Imtiaz Kazmi, representing Al-Hussain Masjid, dismissed any impropriety regarding the event, stating to the MEN, "That was a normal event, there was nothing special in there." He questioned the legality of praising the late Ayatollah, then asserted, "This is legal… We are Shia Muslims and he’s our leader. The main Ayatollah is our leader."

Further investigation reveals that the mosque and organizations affiliated with the SWA have consistently promoted other events referencing Khamenei and the concept of martyrdom. For instance, in March, the AFY Girls group invited followers to a candlelight vigil in Manchester commemorating the late Ayatollah. In April, the mosque’s official website advertised a commemoration of the 40th day after the ‘martyrdom of Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Khamenei’. A video co-authored by AFY also depicted individuals holding portraits of the supreme leader against a backdrop of Islamic Republic flags, while AFY Girls promoted a program glorifying martyrdom as a conscious choice made by those who ‘saw the truth, stood firm, and chose martyrdom’.

Another speaker at the August conference was Sayed Ammar Kazmi, a political and legal campaigner known for hosting a program on Press TV, Iran's state-backed broadcaster. Press TV had its licence revoked by the UK media regulator Ofcom in 2012 and is prohibited from broadcasting within the UK. On his program, ‘Attrition’, Mr. Kazmi previously discussed alleged ‘Zionist subversion’ within the Labour Party and accused pro-Israel groups of fabricating an antisemitism crisis within the party, where he was once a member. He also reported from Tehran during Khamenei’s state funeral in July.

This incident also resonates with Lord Walney’s 'Undue Influence' report, published earlier this year, which highlighted concerns about UK-based groups with charitable status whose senior figures have held positions within Iranian regime-linked clerical and policymaking institutions. The report noted that eight out of ten identified charities are currently under active investigation by the Charity Commission, including the prominent Islamic Centre of England in London, which faces significant scrutiny over its alleged ties to the Iranian regime.

A charity law expert, speaking anonymously to the MEN, emphasized the necessity of a thorough investigation by the Charity Commission into the Manchester event. The expert suggested that the Commission should assess whether the trustees permitted the charity’s premises and resources to be used for activities inconsistent with its charitable objectives, thereby exposing it to the risk of extremist or terrorist abuse. This directly aligns with the Commission’s updated guidance following events in Iran, which specifically warned charities to meticulously scrutinize political activities and promised a robust response to any evidence of links with extremism or terrorism.

When confronted with these allegations, a spokesperson from the Shia Welfare Association’s management team stated that the program was conducted by a third party on its premises and confirmed that the SWA would be undertaking its own internal investigation. The spokesperson asserted, "We believe we have fulfilled our duties correctly with due diligence and risk assessments on these activities. It is our understanding that memorial programmes are within the remit of our charity, based on English charity law. As you stated yourself, this is a legal activity which we believe is consistent with the guidelines of the Charity Commission. We have yet to receive any communication on this matter from the charity commission and can offer no further comment."