Pro-Hezbollah Islamic camp given the green light in UK, despite objections

Makke called deceased Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah “one of the world’s greatest freedom fighters” and attended his funeral.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

A Muslim men’s residential retreat in England that combined combat training with religious instruction went ahead last week despite objections from Jewish organizations, which alleged it was led by a pro-Hezbollah cleric.

The Spiritual Warrior Camp, organized by the Spiritual Warrior Project (SWP), ran from July 30 to August 3 at Darwin Lake in Derbyshire.

Promotional materials described it as offering “God-centric masculinity and brotherhood,” with sessions led by martial arts coaches, business professionals, and Islamic scholars.

Organizers said the program merged Islamic spiritual psychology with practical skills to provide “holistic guidance” for men.

The retreat’s leader, Shia cleric Sayed Hussain Makke, has been a lightning rod for criticism.

The Derbyshire Jewish Community and the Community Security Trust both condemned his involvement, citing his history of praise for Hezbollah.

Makke attended the funeral of the group’s former leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in Beirut, who has expressed support for Hamas and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and has called Nasrallah “one of the world’s greatest freedom fighters.” Hezbollah is a designated terrorist organization in the UK, US, Israel, and Australia.

Earlier this year, Makke was barred from entering Australia when Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke revoked his visa after learning of his presence at Nasrallah’s funeral just days earlier.

Makke has strongly rejected allegations that he or the camp support proscribed organizations, accusing media outlets of misrepresentation. He insists the camp’s mission is entirely peaceful and focused on personal development.

He claimed The Telegraph’s reporting was influenced by “Zionist lobby groups” and said the Jewish Chronicle was acting as a “propaganda outlet for the Zionist state.”

In statements, he argued that the criticism amounted to an attack on him for being a Lebanese Shia Muslim and “nurturing young Muslim men” through SWP.

Both The Telegraph and The Jewish Chronicle have reported extensively on the controversy.