UCL Absoc encouraged its followers to recite a mourning prayer for Khamenei, sharing a post on Instagram stating: “Please recite Surah Al Fatiha [the first chapter of the Quran] for our beloved Sayed.”
An event at UCL 'commemorating the fallen' (photo: Instagram)[Missing Credit]
“Condolences on the martyrdom of Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei,” it said, adding: “We will remain steadfast.”
The student society, which is affiliated with the UCL student union, has posted three videos of Khamenei and has organised an event in a UCL campus building, which will “commemorate the fallen”.
The society also shared a post from Absoc Mental Health, a separate group that claims to be “breaking stigma [about mental health] through the Quran & Ahlulbayt,” which stated: “ABsoc Mental Health send their condolences to you all on the martyrdom of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This is an unimaginable loss for the entire Ummah.
“Today, the battle between truth and falsehood is fought not only militarily or economically, but culturally. The most dangerous war is the cultural one, because when a people lose their beliefs and identity, the enemy wins without firing a single bullet.”
Absoc Mental Health also shared guidance on “navigating collective grief” in the wake of the “martyrdom of Sayed Ali Khamenei”.
The Absocs advised students on their mental health during this period (Photo: Instagram)[Missing Credit]
Soas Absoc did not mention Khamenei by name but posted to its followers: “Never think of those martyred in the cause of Allah as dead. In fact, they are alive with their Lord, well provided for”.
At Royal Holloway, City and Huddersfield universities, the Absocs shared the same post circulated by UCL.
Sheffield Absoc directed followers to the Absoc Mental Health post and reshared content from Zahraa Subeiti featuring an image of Khamenei and the words: “Our leaders are martyrs and our martyrs are leaders and Al-Quds is the axis of the Hereafter”.
Meanwhile, Aston Absoc, Leicester Absoc and Queen Mary Absoc each shared black and white images of the slain leader, with Queen Mary also posting a message calling for angels “to watch over” Iran, while Warwick Absoc published a religious phrase that did not mention Khamenei directly.
And Brunel Absoc stated: “Condolences on the Martyrdom of Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenai”.
Screenshot[Missing Credit]
Laura Trott, the shadow education secretary, took aim at UCL and the Office for Students for allowing Absocs to arrange commemorative events.
“What the hell is going on at UCL and what are the OfS doing to clamp down on this. The Iranian regime openly threatens the UK, and has suppressed and killed thousands. We should not be commemorating them in our universities,” she said.
Screenshot[Missing Credit]
Meanwhile, a UK-registered charity currently under investigation by the Charity Commission for its alleged links to the Iranian regime, hosted a vigil for Khamenei, at which attendees were filmed weeping over his death.
The Islamic Centre of England (ICE), based in north-west London’s Maida Vale, held the vigil on Sunday, advertising it with a poster that stated: “Our leader is today a great martyr.”
An image of the assassinated leader was pinned to the gates of the Islamic Centre (photo: Instagram)[Missing Credit]
The centre has been under investigation by the Charity Commission in connection with several alleged issues with governance and management since 2022, and has been accused of operating as the office of the Islamic regime’s supreme leader in the UK.
In videos from inside the centre, dozens of men can be seen attending the event, with Khamenei’s image, which has long adorned the walls of ICE, prominently displayed. In one video seen by the JC, attendees can be heard crying.
Outside ICE, a makeshift shrine was erected with candles and several images of Khamenei.
The flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran was waved, along with the Palestinian flag.
Elsewhere, a candlelit vigil is scheduled for Wednesday at the Islamic Centre of Manchester.
An image circulating online to promote the event states: “The Friends of Islamic Centre of Manchester Invites you to a Candlelight Vigil for the late Supreme Leader Ayotollah Seyed Ali Husseini Khamenei.”
Kasra Aarabi, the director of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) research at United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) has been exposing pro-Iranian regime networks in the UK as part of a campaign to “make Britain a Khamenei-free zone”.
He said: "Khamenei has been eliminated and the US and Israel are dismantling his extremist infrastructure in Iran – and yet his infrastructure in the UK remains fully active and open.
"It is deeply disturbing that UK-registered charities and university student bodies are mourning the death of an individual who was plotting terror on British streets and had British blood on his hands.
"The government cannot ignore this – brushing it under the carpet is not a tactic... the government should be putting British national security first. This is urgent and cannot be ignored."
Responding to a previous JC enquiry regarding the Charity Commission investigation, ICE said: “ICE is not the official office of Ayatollah Khamenei or any other religious or political person. The Centre is an independent English charity.
“As part of its religious purposes, ICE serves Shia communities of various nationalities. It provides religious services and counsel based on the edicts of Theologians who are considered religious scholars of sufficient calibre of religious knowledge, and this includes Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei. However, this guidance is strictly within the scope of his role as a spiritual and religious authority.
“ICE’s religious services are not exclusive to those who follow Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei. ICE also provides religious support to individuals who follow other ulema and jurisconsults.
"The Charity Commission opened an inquiry into ICE, and part of the purpose of that review was to review our governance processes in relation to speakers and events. We have and are fully cooperating with the Commission… we take our legal and regulatory obligations seriously.”
