A number of mosques across the UK have held vigils for the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – despite the brutal former ruler being described as having “British blood on his hands”.
At the Islamic Centre of England in north London, candlelit photographs of the 86-year-old were placed outside, with one member of the congregation heard on video shouting: “We will obey you Khamenei.”
The ICE was recently named in a letter by a group of Labour MPs sent to security minister Dan Jarvis, who raised alarm over several organisations they believe are promoting the Iranian regime’s agenda on British soil.
The centre has been under Charity Commission investigation since 2022 over claims it operates as an extension of the Iranian state, which it denies.
In its promotional material for the event, ICE said it was with “deep sorrow and heartbreak” to invite the Muslim community to the event to “mourn the martyrdom” of the so-called “Imam of the Ummah”.
The centre came under fire in January 2020 when it hosted a candlelit memorial for IRGC General Qassim Soleimani, killed in a US drone strike, where attendees described him as a “dedicated soldier of Islam” and a “great martyr”.
The Charity Commission later issued a formal warning over that event and another gathering praising the deceased Islamic Republic general.
The group has insisted it focuses on religious, educational and community services only and does not in any way endorse extremism or criminal activity.
Candlelit photographs of the 86-year-old were placed outside the Islamic Centre of England
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TIKTOK/DHUL_HAJIB
Images have also circulated across social media advertising similar events at mosques in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Nottingham.
Across British universities, a slew of Islamic societies have expressed their grief at the leader’s death.
The Ahlul-Bayt Islamic Society at University College London (UCL) expressed its “sincere condolences” after the death of Ali Khamenei, posting a tribute to him alongside a prayer to be recited in his memory.
The group shared messages describing his death as an “unimaginable loss for the entire Ummah”, or the Muslim world.
One member of congregation heard on video shouting: ‘We will obey you Khamenei’
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TIKTOK/DHUL_HAJIB
United Against Nuclear Iran’s Kasra Aarabi hit out at the memorial events, telling The Times: “These are vigils for a man who had British blood on his hands, who ordered terror plots on British soil.”
He described the activity across the country as “deeply concerning”.
Mr Arabi warned the Islamic Republic has built an “active” network of power structures across Britain.
“They are mourning, holding vigils for Khamenei. It is more important than ever for Keir Starmer’s Government to intervene and dismantle ideological centres linked to the regime,” he said.
The Ahlul-Bayt Islamic Society at UCL expressed its ‘sincere condolences’ after the death of Ali Khamenei
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INSTAGRAM/UCLABSOC“There is a genuine terror threat from the regime and it’s increasing day by day.
“Yet the Government has not produced effective policy to mitigate this threat.”
Despite the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) being linked to at least 20 credible threats to either kidnap or kill people in Britain since 2022, it is not yet been proscribed as a terror group.
Sir Keir Starmer was told by a group of Labour backbenchers that proscribing the group was a vital step to curb Tehran’s ability to repress and kill protesters in Iran.
A spokesman for the Islamic Centre of England has said it operates independently and is not an “official office or representative body of any government, political entity, or individual”.
He added: “The centre does not represent, promote, or advocate for the political views or agendas of any state, figure or regime. Its religious guidance is confined to matters of faith, ethics, and spirituality. The centre promotes religious peace, and harmony between different faiths.”