Violence erupted outside a mosque in Maida Vale, London, on Friday night as supporters of the Iranian regime clashed with monarchist protesters. The confrontation took place near the Islamic Centre of England (ICE) around 7:35 PM, where demonstrators gathered on opposing sides of the street.
On one side were supporters of Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last monarch, who displayed the pre-1979 Iranian flag adorned with the lion and sun symbol. Some participants were also seen waving flags of Israel and the United States.
Opposing them, closer to the mosque, were individuals backing the current Iranian regime. Video footage shared online captured the escalating tensions as the two groups shouted at each other before the situation quickly turned physical.
Within moments, protesters were engaged in a brawl, kicking and punching each other, with the fight spilling onto a zebra crossing and causing vehicles to halt. During the chaos, a 17-year-old boy sustained a head injury.
The violence subsided almost as rapidly as it began, with both groups retreating to their respective sides of the road while continuing to shout at one another. At one point, a demonstrator shouted “Javid Shah!” which translates to “Long Live the King,” directed at the opposing faction.
Police were summoned to the scene shortly after the disorder commenced. Officers arrived at approximately 7:35 PM and worked to disperse the crowd, although no arrests were made.
Background of the Incident
The Islamic Centre of England has previously been a site of confrontations between supporters and opponents of the Iranian regime. The clash on Friday night coincides with escalating tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel, as military operations enter their seventh day.
Iran is preparing for what could be its most intense night of bombardment yet, following a warning from former President Donald Trump that the U.S. would accept nothing less than “unconditional surrender.”
Controversial Events at the Mosque
Earlier in the week, the Maida Vale mosque drew criticism after hosting a vigil for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, just one day after he was reportedly killed in joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes over Tehran. The centre referred to him on social media as “a great martyr.” This phrase had also been used previously to describe General Qassim Soleimani of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in January 2020. Following Soleimani’s death, the mosque organized a candlelit memorial service in his honor.
The mosque has faced backlash for comments made by its director, Seyed Hashem Moosavi. In October 2022, Moosavi labeled Iranians protesting against the regime as “enemies” and “soldiers of Satan,” and claimed that women who refuse to wear the hijab were spreading “poison.”
In November 2022, the Charity Commission initiated a full statutory inquiry into the organization due to concerns about its promotion of the Iranian regime’s political agenda. This investigation is ongoing and could potentially lead to the centre losing its charitable status.
Political Implications and Responses
The Islamic Centre of England has been mentioned in a letter from Labour MPs to security minister Dan Jarvis, urging stricter measures against organizations believed to be linked to the Iranian state. The MPs expressed concern that groups, including the ICE, “appear to be actively promoting the Iranian regime’s ideology and interests.”
In response to these allegations, the mosque has stated that it operates as an independent charity and is not an official representative of any government or political entity. The centre emphasized that it does not advocate for the political views of any state or regime, focusing instead on religious guidance and community support. Für weitere Informationen zu den Ängsten und Befürchtungen innerhalb der Londoner Diaspora, siehe diesen Artikel.
The centre stated, “Its religious guidance is confined to matters of faith, ethics, and spirituality. The centre promotes religious peace and harmony between different faiths.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that they are investigating the disturbance. A spokesperson for the force stated, “Officers are investigating a disturbance which took place outside a mosque in Maida Vale on Friday March 6. Police were called to reports of a disturbance at 19:35 and were on the scene within minutes.”
According to the police, a 17-year-old boy approached officers to report a head injury. He was assessed at the scene but did not require medical assistance. No further inquiries have been reported, and officers remained in the area until the group dispersed.
No arrests have been made at this stage, and investigations are ongoing. Authorities are aware of footage circulating on social media and will review that along with CCTV as part of their inquiries. A dispersal order is currently in place to prevent further disorder.
Police investigations into the incident are continuing.
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Bildquelle: ai-generated-gemini
