An Islamic summer camp for preteens in the UK that was accused of being a tool for extremism and radicalization has been axed, the organizing charity announced on Tuesday.
Camp Wilayah was set to take place in the Phasels Wood Activity Centre between August 22 and August 25. It has been run by the Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission (AIM), a UK-based Shi’ite Muslim organisation established in 2003, for the last decade.
The camp’s stated aim is to allow “young campers [aged 8-13] to enjoy the outdoors, make new friends, and deepen their understanding of Islamic values – all in a fun and inspiring environment.” Girls who attend are required to wear the hijab and are mainly segregated “to ensure minimal overlap between girls and boys.”
The Jerusalem Post previously covered the allegations against the camp, including from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), which suggested that AIM may be breaching Sections 5 and 18, 19, 21, and 23 of the Public Order Act 1986, Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, and Section 47 of the Children Act 1989. UKLFI noted that AIM glorifies martyrdom in violent conflicts, which "risks encouraging others to seek martyrdom through violence and frames death in conflict as an aspiration."
Earlier in August, the Hertfordshire branches of the Reform UK party sent a letter to the British Scouts movement to express concern about Camp Wilayah, as Phasels Wood is a Scouts venue. Reform UK Hertfordshire called on the Scout movement to "act decisively" against the Islamic camp, which it said was "not fit for a Scouts venue."
AIM responded to the letter on August 7, calling it a "politically motivated attempt to smear a lawful, faith-based programme that has operated safely and successfully for over a decade at Phasels Wood."
"The letter presents no evidence, relies on prejudice, and contributes to a broader pattern of targeting Muslim organisations under the guise of self-proclaimed patriotism and entitlement."
AIM reiterated its claim that Camp Wilayah is not a space for indoctrination or radicalisation, adding that it, as an organization, has "no relationship with the government of Iran or any other foreign country."
The camp seemed set to go ahead. However, on August 12, AIM announced that Camp Wilayah will not proceed "following discussions with Hertfordshire Scouts, and in light of serious threats levelled at the safety of children at the camp."
It accused "foreign political lobby groups, media outlets and far right thugs" of making unfounded allegations "that heighten the risk and encourage harm to children in the UK."
AIM also accused Reform UK of making "threats" in order to "mobilise protests and disrupt children’s camps."
"Not only is this despicable behaviour, but it is Islamophobia in plain sight, and it should alarm every member of society," AIM added. Reform UK rejected the notion it had made threats against AIM, sharing the letter publicly on X as evidence.
AIM also took aim at UKLFI for creating an "increasingly dangerous climate of hate" by "targeting Muslim institutions and those critical of the Israeli occupation, while defending and whitewashing the ongoing genocide in Palestine."
Former government adviser on extremism Lord Walney celebrated the camp's cancellation, calling AIM "Iran Ayatollah sympathisers who are worlds apart from the vast majority of moderate British Muslims" and encouraging people to not be "taken in by the Ahlulbayt Islamic Mission victim narrative."
"There are a host of charities that need proper scrutiny - including the activities of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, Islamic Council of England, and others such as Dar Al Hekma Trust and Abrar Islamic Foundation. We must not be deterred by bogus cries of ‘Islamophobia’." he added.
Caroline Turner of UKLFI told the Post on Thursday, “We are relieved that Camp Wilayah will not be going ahead. We were concerned for the safety of the children, and that event may be used as a platform to radicalise children, incite hatred or violence, and glorify terrorist ideology."
"We hope that in future there will be background checks on the organisations running children’s camps, so this cannot happen again,” she added.
AIM's links to Iran
AIM overtly supports the Islamic Republic and its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The charity sells both original works and commissioned translations on its website, including three books by Khamenei: Tabyeen: The Neglected Obligation, The Compassionate Family, and Islamic Beliefs: Reclaiming the Narrative.
It also features former Iranian Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini’s Islamic Government and several books honoring IRGC jihadists.
The charity and the camp were mentioned in a May 2025 report on the Islamic Republic’s influence in the UK. The report, carried out by the organization NUFDI, was previously written about by the Post.
NUFDI said that AIM’s London office is operated by the World Ahlul Bayt Foundation, which is currently directed by Hojjat al-Islam Muhammad Hassan Akhtari, a supposed co-founder of Hezbollah and a close ally of Khamenei.
It also claimed that AIM frequently posts controversial and partisan content on X/Twitter and its website, but removes it quickly soon after.
AIM also runs an e-commerce store called the House of Taha, which sells flags and insignia of Iranian-backed militias such as the Popular Mobilization Forces and Hezbollah, as well as texts from Khamenei and other Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders.
According to The Times, on October 12, 2023, AIM’s Instagram account shared a message saying that “a flood was inevitable” and the “Zionists brought this disaster on themselves”.