The Charity Commission has opened a compliance case into an Islamic charity after allegations of “possible links” to extremists and terror organisations in Iran were reported this week.
A joint investigation by the Times and advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) this week alleged that Labaik Ya Zahra (LYZ) has given a platform to extremists who have ties with US and UK-sanctioned organisations at the charity’s events.
The UK-registered charity, which promotes the Islamic faith and women’s rights through educational workshops, held its 20th annual conference in Iran last year.
According to the joint investigation, the charity partnered with organisations that are sanctioned by the US and the UK, one of which being the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation, the head of which has been sanctioned by the UK since 2020.
It alleged that Iranian government officials, who are affiliated with the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and sanctioned in the UK, were also invited to speak at the charity’s event.
But a trustee of LYZ denied that the event hosted extremists linked to terror organisations, the Times reported.
Regulator takes extremism links ‘very seriously’
A commission spokesperson told Civil Society: “We take any concern about possible links between a charity and extremism or terrorism very seriously, and will respond robustly to evidence of wrongdoing including making referrals to other agencies where appropriate.
“Such links are abhorrent not only because of the potential misuse of charitable funds for malign purposes, but because they are corrosive to the trust on which the charitable sector thrives.
“In light of the recent concerns raised about Labaik Ya Zahra, we have immediately opened a compliance case and are engaging with the charity’s trustees to investigate the allegations.”
Civil Society has asked the charity, which operates in Birmingham, Bradford, Luton, Manchester, Newport, Northamptonshire and throughout London, to comment.
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