The Islamic Center of England, a London-based charity with alleged connections to the Iranian regime, has come under increased scrutiny after being allowed to remain on the British government’s list of licensed sponsors for migrant workers.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The United Kingdom has allowed a charity with alleged links to the Iranian regime to remain on the government’s list of licensed visa sponsors. 📺 DETAIL: The Islamic Centre of England, a London-based charity, is allowed to import migrants by sponsoring visas for “Skilled Workers,” including religious ministers. This is despite the charity being under investigation by the Charity Commission, the United Kingdom’s independent regulator overseeing charitable activities and organizations, for alleged links to the Iranian regime, and regarded by critics as a threat to national security. The Centre has hosted events with merchandise featuring symbols associated with Iran and Hezbollah. The Centre also held a candlelit vigil for Qassim Soleimani, former commander of Iran’s terrorist Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), after he was killed in an airstrike conducted by the United States back in 2020. Seyed Hashem Moosavi, the Centre’s imam and director, has described protesters opposed to the Iranian regime as “soldiers of Satan.” 💬 KEY QUOTE: “It is alarming that the Islamic Centre of England remains a registered visa sponsor while subject to an ongoing inquiry.” – Lord Walney, former government adviser on political violence 🎯 IMPACT: The charity’s ability to sponsor visas while under investigation raises questions about the British government’s oversight of such organizations. The story has sparked concerns that the government is not taking the threats posed by groups with potential ties to hostile foreign regimes seriously. Public pressure could lead to the Centre’s removal from the list of licensed sponsors. This is another example of how the government’s “Skilled Worker” visa, roughly equivalent to the H-1B visa in the United States, is vulnerable to exploitation, with the definition of “skilled” extending far beyond medicine, engineering, and tech, which are the fields most members of the public believe the visa is intended for. This week, it was revealed that Islamic bookshops in Britain selling pro-jihad material were also granted the ability to sponsor “Skilled Workers” from overseas. |
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
show less
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
