UK charity linked to Iranian fatwa cleric was given a £15,000 ‘non secular tolerance’ grant

An Iranian cleric who called for revenge for the killing of the Ayatollah was behind a British Islamic centre that received a £15,000 grant to promote ‘religious tolerance’.

Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, 99, issued a fatwa last week after the assassination of Ali Khamenei, Iran‘s Supreme Leader, in a targeted killing by Israel following a CIA tip-off.

He urged Muslims worldwide to avenge Khamenei’s death and said seeking revenge was the religious duty of all Muslims ‘so that the evil of these criminals may be removed from the world’. 

In 2025 he issued a fatwa on ‘Enemies of God’ US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

However, it has emerged that a charity based at a north London Islamic centre set up by Shirazi received a £15,000 grant in 2009 from the Government’s Prevent scheme to promote ‘religious tolerance’ and counter extremism. 

The International Islamic Link charity is based in Wembley at Shirazi’s Babul Murad Centre. After concerns were raised at the time, the Charity Commission reviewed its charitable status. 

Following news of the fatwa, the 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.’ 

It said it issued ‘a regulatory action plan which required the trustees to ensure the charity was independent of external pressure or influence, adding: ‘If new concerns are raised, we will assess these.’

Shirazi is one of Iran’s most powerful clerics, and experts say his fatwas can be viewed by followers as an instruction.

Counter-terror expert Ghaffar Hussein said: ‘Iran has always sought to export its revolution and tap into diaspora communities. We must not allow this to happen.’

The Babul Murad Centre has been contacted for comment.