Hezbollah has been banned in its entirety in Britain since 2019, making it a criminal offence to promote or show support for the Iran-backed terror movement.
A clip of the man waving the flag was livestreamed on YouTube on Saturday (Photo: YouTube)[Missing Credit]
A second clip, posted on Instagram stories on Saturday, appears to show the same man strolling along Edgware Road with the flag draped around his shoulders brazenly passing a police officer.
In the YouTube live stream, broadcast by Al Hussaini TV – a channel affiliated with march organisers The Hussaini Association – shows the man slipping into the procession, joining marchers travelling from Edgware Road to Paddington Green.
Marchers were live streamed chanting in Arabic and pounding their chests in unison as music blared from speakers.
During Arbaeen commemorations in London the following day, organised by The Hussaini Islamic Trust, other flags on display included those of Iran’s Islamic Republic, as well as Palestine and Lebanon.
Demonstrators were also spotted carrying posters bearing a photograph of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Hundreds of men kneeled in prayer at Marble Arch as part of the commemorations and there were also food stalls, which police were seen enjoying in various clips.
Other events to commemorate Arbaeen included hundreds of men kneeling in prayer at Marble Arch (Photo: Instagram)[Missing Credit]
After being alerted to alleged flying of Hezbollah flag at the march, the Metropolitan Police confirmed they were working to track down the flag-waver and appealed for the public’s help.
The Community Security Trust said the incident was “disturbing”.
A spokesperson for the charity told the JC: “It is disturbing to see the flag of this terrorist group waved so brazenly on the streets of London. Such scenes ought to no longer be possible since the group was proscribed. This man needs to be identified and prosecuted as soon as possible.”
The Hussaini Islamic Trust, a UK-registered charity based in Harrow, said the annual march which occured the day after the Hezbollah flag was seen seeks “to replicate the world’s largest peaceful gathering that takes place in Karbala, Iraq each year on the day of Arbaeen”.
It said that it had nothing to do with the commemorations on Saturday, which it said was organised by The Hussaini Association.
A spokesperson for the Hussaini Islamic Trust said “our organisation has no connection whatsoever with the incident in question.”
On its website, the charity invites people to “come together on the day of Arbaeen in cities across the world to honour the great sacrifice of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)”.
It adds it strives for the march to be a “peaceful and successful procession” that fosters "unity and friendship between people of all ages and cultures.”
A Met Police spokesperson said: “Police are aware of a video circulating online reportedly showing a man carrying a proscribed flag at the Hussaini Islamic Association annual march from Edgeware Road to Paddington Green on Saturday 16 August.
"Enquiries have been made to identify the individual carrying the flag and further assessment is being done to establish any further offences.
"Anyone with further information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting CAD5235/17Aug."
The JC has approached The Hussaini Association for comment.
