Hezbollah training camp in England? Muslim camp features combat training drills by terror-linked teachers

A training camp held last week in Derbyshire, England, raised concerns within the local Jewish community due to the cleric leading the event and his alleged ties to the Shia terrorist group Hezbollah.

The event, titled the "Spiritual Warrior Camp," was held at Lake Darwin in the Peak District and organized by Shiite preacher and influencer Hussein Makke. It featured a combination of physical training and religious-spiritual content, focusing on the “development of God-centric masculinity” and “man psychology,” alongside training in boxing, Olympic-level wrestling, and other physical activities.

In light of the educational and religious content offered by the camp organizers, the Jewish community in Derbyshire and the British organization CST (Community Security Trust), which is responsible for the security of the Jewish community, expressed serious concerns. 

A representative of the Jewish community of Derbyshire expressed alarm at the camp’s messaging. 

"The messages surrounding the camp promote a mix of toxic masculinity and rhetoric akin to extremist organizations,” he stated. 

"This is alarming and poses a real threat to our well-being. We urge the authorities to closely monitor the activity to ensure that no extremist or inflammatory content is distributed there," he added. 

The CST echoed his concerns, stating, "It is very troubling that a preacher who expressed deep appreciation for Hezbollah's leaders is in charge of this kind of camp. There is a real risk of radicalization, and we recommend that the police closely monitor the content that is broadcast there.” 

Makke has previously mourned members of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He had his visa to visit Australia revoked earlier this year after it was revealed that he had attended the funeral of the late Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah. 

Makke called Nasrallah one of the world's “greatest freedom fighters” and said the large turnout at the assassinated leader’s funeral demonstrated the “resistance” is “alive and well.” 

He also posted a tribute to a British friend, Mohamed Balbaaki, on Instagram, who died fighting for Hezbollah. In the post, Makke is seen crouching next to a shrine of Balbaaki, with the text, “I miss you forever.” 

According to a report in The Telegraph, Makke's lawyers insist that he is not a member of any proscribed organization and has not provided support to one.

Promotional videos for the summer camp show young men boxing, wrestling, participating in training exercises, and attending lectures delivered by clerics. 

There is no indication in the available materials that the camp is training participants to engage in violence.

Makke accused The Telegraph and the Jewish Chronicle of running a smear campaign against him. 

“This attempt to stir up hatred against our camp attendees originates from the infamous Zionist lobby group, United Against A Nuclear Iran (UANI), which, until recently, had two Mossad terror chiefs on its advisory board,” The Jerusalem Post quoted him as saying. 

“That the Telegraph is laundering smears on behalf of the State of Israel should tell your readers who is calling the shots in today’s Britain,” he continued. “That must and will now end: the Zionist movement and its grip on British politics will be dismantled.” 

Makke called the Jewish Chronicle a “propaganda outlet for the Zionist state,” saying it is “a direct channel for a disinformation campaign ordered by [Prime Minister] Binyamin Netanyahu.”