UK Shia Muslim youth camp axed after complaint from pro-Israel organisation

A UK-based Shia Muslim charity has cited anti-Muslim hostility as a key factor in the cancellation of its children’s summer camp, following accusations that it promotes pro-Iran and extremist views.

Speaking to The New Arab on Thursday, the Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission (AIM) blamed "Islamophobia" after the British right-wing Reform UK party and the pro-Israel legal advocacy group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) claimed that Muslim children under its care were being exposed to extreme views.

The AIM-run Camp Wilayah, aimed at children aged nine to 14, was due to include activities such as climbing and abseiling, alongside Islamic "lectures and discussions".

The event, planned for this month in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, had been described by AIM as an "amazing place to enjoy the outdoors, make new friends, learn and build on Islamic values."

"For more than 13 years, we have held our camp at Phasels Wood without a single complaint, earning praise for our conduct, safeguarding, and community spirit," an AIM spokesperson told The New Arab.

"Camp Wilayah has been a safe, positive environment for the Muslim children partaking, with rigorous safeguarding procedures, DBS checks, and a flawless record with both the campsite and local authorities."

The charity expressed concerns over "external" circumstances and accused Reform UK of fuelling backlash by threatening to mobilise protests and "disrupt" the camp.

Representatives of the party alleged that AIM promoted "teachings and ideologies that do not align with that which the majority of citizens in this country see as appropriate".

“This is not about Camp Wilayah. This is about a dangerous climate in which Muslims are demonised simply for gathering, learning, and practising their faith. Instead of challenging this rising tide of bigotry, some have chosen to exploit it as a political tool," AIM told TNA.

"We reject these baseless smears entirely and will continue to stand up for the rights of our children and our community."

AIM also condemned comments from Lord Walney, the UK government’s former anti-extremism tsar, who claimed the camp "risked indoctrinating" children and said its cancellation was the right decision.

The charity said his remarks "trivialise legitimate safety concerns of British Muslims" and added: "Lord Walney’s words are a textbook example of the problem we face: dismissing real harassment, threats, and intimidation while refusing to acknowledge the impact of Islamophobia."

The Times and The Telegraph reported that AIM had been accused of supporting Iran, citing social media posts in which the group allegedly praised Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and recommended his books as "a great read".

The outlets also pointed to posts in which AIM’s official Instagram account allegedly stated that "Zionists brought this disaster on themselves" five days after Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel and another video reportedly claimed Jews were "violent" and described moderate Muslims who tolerate Israel as "filth".

AIM has reiterated that the camp’s cancellation was due to safety risks, not misconduct, stating that Hertfordshire Scouts and Phasels Wood Activity Centre had warned of "potential third-party disruption".

"This makes clear that the cancellation of Camp Wilayah was not due to any misconduct, wrongdoing, or ‘extremism risks’ on our part," the charity said.

Meanwhile, UKLFI said it had written to Hertfordshire Council to warn that the camp could "glorify an extremist ideology, promote antisemitic narratives, and risk inciting hatred and violence."

A spokesperson told TNA the group had "ample evidence" of potential extremism and safeguarding concerns, adding: "AIM has removed a couple of the worst videos since publicity about its camp, but UKLFI has kept copies of them as evidence.”

Prior to the cancellation, the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) wrote to Brent Council leader Muhammed Butt last month, expressing concerns over what it described as UKLFI’s targeting of AIM.

Referring to heightened Iran- Israel tensions, with a recent 12-day armed conflict between the two countries, IHRC said UKLFI’s claims were "unevidenced" and argued it was "unsurprising that an organisation dedicated explicitly to the defence of Israel would vilify activities organised by Muslims, unfairly presenting them as dangerous or malign."

IHRC further noted that UKLFI’s previous references to laws such as the Public Order Act 1986, the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 and the Children Act 1989 did not "support their claims when examined in context."

The group added: "These sections criminalise the use or publication of threatening or abusive material intended to stir up racial hatred. However, criticism of Israel or expressions of pro-Palestinian sentiment do not constitute racial hatred under UK law."