Authorities in London are investigating the Dar Alhekma Trust (DAT), a charity accused of having connections to Tehran.
The probe, led by a specialist unit targeting terrorist financing, follows a dossier alleging ties to groups backed by Iran.
The Charity Commission has also opened a regulatory compliance case into DAT and its affiliate, the Abrar Islamic Foundation (AIF), which is based in London. Both organisations deny any wrongdoing.
Allegations and Statements
The investigation was triggered after evidence emerged linking DAT to figures and organisations supportive of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
A trustee of DAT reportedly praised an IRGC commander and commented on the October 7 Hamas attacks, stating that Palestinians “rose up and became the master of the situation.”
While the Charity Commission’s inquiry has been paused pending the outcome of the police investigation, the situation has intensified concerns about Iran’s influence in the UK.
Broader Context of UK Concerns
This investigation comes as British intelligence warns of increasing Iranian activity within the UK. Tehran has been accused of orchestrating assassination attempts, kidnappings, and campaigns to silence dissidents.
Last year, the Charity Commission also investigated other UK-based charities with alleged ties to Iran, uncovering instances where organisations hosted hardline Islamic clerics and paramilitary figures.
The Times recently reported on six additional UK organisations linked to Iran, some of which have been active in pro-Hamas rallies.
Officials fear these groups may be used by hostile actors to exploit tensions surrounding the Gaza-Israel conflict.
