Open displays of support for the Islamic Regime in Iran were seen throughout Sunday’s Arbaeen Procession in London.
The Arbaeen Procession is an annual public march held to commemorate Imam Hussain ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was martyred in Karbala, Iraq, in 680 CE.
Arbaeen marks the 40th day after his martyrdom and is designed to remember his alleged stand against oppression and injustice. For those who cannot get to Iraq for the Karbala procession, there are many similar marches around the world.
An estimated 35,000 people attended Sunday’s Marble Arch procession, organized by Hussaini Islamic Trust UK. According to the trust, this was the largest-ever gathering in the 46 years the event has been run in the UK.
While the entire purpose of the march is to remember and commemorate Hussain’s stand against injustice and oppression, Sunday’s event saw significant support for Islamic Regime figures.
The Jerusalem Post reviewed hundreds of videos and photos from the event, finding at least dozens of posters and flags of former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as hundreds of Islamic regime flags.
One in particular stood out: a poster by the Islamic Human Rights Commission with the words “Choose the right side of history” superimposed on a photo of Khamenei.
IHRC under investigation by UK since 2017 over regime ties
The IHRC has been investigated by the UK’s Charity Commission since 2017 for its alleged ties to the Iranian regime.
The watchdog issued an official warning to the IHRC in March 2023, after a statutory investigation into concerns of “misconduct and/or mismanagement.” However, the case remains ongoing, and no enforcement or penalty against the IHRC has been published to date.
IHRC also organizes the extremist annual al-Quds Day (Jerusalem Day) event.
Also visible in the footage from Sunday was a man wearing a keffiyeh featuring the three supreme leaders of the Islamic regime: erstwhile supreme leader Ruhollah Khomeini, Ali Khamenei, and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
The brazen displays of pro-regime propaganda during Sunday’s Arbaeen march were particularly striking given the UK’s recent introduction of the National Security (State Threats) Act 2026.
The new legislation, brought into law in July, gives the Home Secretary new powers to designate organizations involved in state-threat activity linked to a foreign power.
On July 17, 2026, it officially designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This made expressing support for the IRGC a criminal offense.
Support for Ayatollahs could be seen as criminal offense
Given that the ayatollahs are the ultimate authority over the IRGC, displays of support for them could be seen as support for the organization.
The Post reached out to the Metropolitan Police to confirm whether any action was taken.
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and MP Nick Timothy wrote on X/Twitter: “You might be forgiven for thinking this is Tehran. But no, it is London, where those who live among us openly celebrate the antisemitic and terrorist state of Iran.”