𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

A Conservative MP has warned that the “murderous Iranian regime is abusing our charity sector to advance its evil ambitions” after revelations about UK charities with alleged extremist links.

Jack Rankin issued the stark warning as the Charity Commission revealed it is investigating multiple organisations with alleged Iranian links – including one which hosted an event where speakers used anti-Semitic language and praised a sanctioned Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander.

The Tory MP said: “Brits will be deeply concerned to learn of the mounting indications that the murderous Iranian regime is abusing our charity sector to advance its evil ambitions. People will rightly ask why charities […] are able to continue operating with a free hand.”

He added: “The Government and Charity Commission need to get a grip. It is a betrayal not just of law-abiding Brits but of the brave Iranian people who have been murdered by the butchers of Tehran.”

The Charity Commission has launched a statutory inquiry into the Al-Tawheed Charitable Trust following serious concerns about an event held by a third party at its premises in 2020.

In a letter seen by the Daily Express, the Commission states that “anti-Semitic language was used” and speakers “praised Major General Qasem Soleimani” who was, at the time, Commander of the sanctioned Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps.

The Commission has prohibited the charity’s trustees from allowing its premises to be used by the third party that organised the event. The Charity Commission also warned in the letter that it recognised “that hostile foreign states may seek to gain influence in the UK by using charities as a vehicle for promoting their worldview”.

Two other charities – Dar Al-Hekma Trust and Abrar Islamic Foundation – were under investigation but cases were temporarily paused at the direct request of the Metropolitan Police to avoid prejudicing their assessment.

The Met has now confirmed it has no objection to the Commission addressing these matters directly with the charities, and compliance inspections are planned in the coming weeks.

However, a spokesperson for Dar Al-Hekma Trust and Abrar Islamic Foundation issued a robust denial of the allegations.

They said: “Dar Al-Hekma Trust and Abrar Islamic Foundation categorically deny the allegations to which you refer.”

The spokesperson added: “Mr Rankin’s quoted remarks are inflammatory and misleading. The charities are law-abiding, UK-registered charities. Neither charity has any connection to, or alignment with, the Iranian regime (or any foreign state).”

They insisted: “Neither is directed, controlled or influenced by any foreign government, and neither supports violence or extremism.”

The charities said they had operated in the UK for decades “serving their communities on a lawful, community-facing basis, with proper governance and up-to-date financial records”.

The spokesperson claimed: “We are deeply concerned that an MP and a member of the House of Lords are exerting political pressure on the Charity Commission in relation to these matters. We believe that this pressure is being applied, knowingly or otherwise, in a manner that serves the interests of a hostile foreign state.”

They added: “Any statement or insinuation that either charity is aligned with the Iranian regime, is ‘abusing’ the UK charity sector, or has hosted ‘extremists’ would be false and defamatory.”

The Al-Tawheed Charitable Trust did not respond to requests for comment.

The Charity Commission said it always deals robustly with those who intentionally or recklessly misuse charities for malign purposes.