UK authorities gave charity linked to Iran fatwa cleric £15,000 ‘spiritual tolerance’ grant
A charity at a London centre linked to hardline cleric Naser Makarem Shirazi received a £15,000 grant despite his recent fatwa calling for global revenge
Hardline cleric Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shiraz, who issued a controversial fatwa last week(Image: Getty Images)
A North London Islamic centre with ties to a hardline Iranian cleric received thousands of pounds in government funding intended to promote “religious tolerance.”
The grant, totalling £15,000, was awarded to the International Islamic Link charity via the UK Government‘s Prevent strategy.
The charity is based at the Babul Murad Centre in Wembley, a facility established by Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi.
The 99-year-old cleric has recently made headlines for issuing a fatwa calling for global retaliation following the death of Iran‘s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was killed in a targeted Israeli operation following a tip-off from the CIA.
In his decree, Shirazi urged followers to fulfil their “religious duty” through revenge. It follows a similar 2025 fatwa where he labelled US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu as “Enemies of God.”
The Daily Mail reports that the Charity Commission previously reviewed the Wembley-based organisation after concerns were raised regarding its links to the cleric. The grant funding was originally awarded in 2009.
Following the recent calls for violence, the Commission confirmed it is monitoring the situation closely.
A spokesperson for the Charity Commission said: “We take very seriously any alleged links between a charity and extremism or terrorism. This is why when concerns were first raised…we reviewed the evidence and met trustees at International Islamic Link.”
The charity was previously issued a “regulatory action plan” to ensure it remained independent of external political pressure.
The commission added that they will “assess” any new concerns brought to their attention.
Experts believe Shirazi’s influence is significant, noting that his decrees are often interpreted as direct instructions by his followers.
Counter-terror expert Ghaffar Hussein warned that the UK must remain vigilant against foreign influence within local communities.
He said: “Iran has always sought to export its revolution and tap into diaspora communities. We must not allow this to happen.”
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