The Charity Commission is investigating videos of antisemitic speeches by Iranian generals that were shown to UK students. The videos, which were confirmed by the BBC, also include footage of “death to Israel” chants at a UK Islamic charity’s premises. The videos have raised concerns about attempts by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to radicalise UK Muslims.
The IRGC, one of the most powerful paramilitary organisations in the Middle East, has been linked to kidnap and assassination plots in the UK. The videos were recorded in 2020 and 2021 and show speeches by former and active IRGC commanders, as well as an event at the Kanoon Towhid Islamic centre in west London.
The Islamic Students Associations of Britain (ISA) promoted the online talks. The ISA was founded to promote the philosophy of Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The Kanoon Towhid centre is owned by the Al-Tawheed (TUCF) Charitable Trust, which is already under investigation by the Charity Commission.
Conservative MP Alicia Kearns described the speeches as a “brazen act of radicalisation” and called for the IRGC to be added to the list of proscribed terrorist groups in the UK. The BBC has also seen promotional posts for another talk to British students featuring former IRGC commander Ezzatollah Zarghami, who is sanctioned in the UK for human rights abuses.
The Islamic Students Association of Britain said it is an independent group with no affiliations to any government and respects people from all backgrounds, faiths and communities. The Al-Tawheed (TUCF) Charitable Trust did not respond to requests for comment.
