Since Saturday, the names of Hussein Harake and Zeinab Basma have been at the center of a growing controversy in the United Kingdom. The pair—Harake, a former British Airways security employee at Heathrow Airport, and Basma, an NHS doctor—are accused of raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for Lebanon through a group alleged to have ties to Hezbollah.
The allegations, first reported by The Times on May 10, have drawn serious concern from British authorities and triggered investigations into the couple’s activities and the legitimacy of their organization, Zayir UK.
According to the report, 29-year-old Harake had his security clearance revoked after security officials flagged a series of social media posts in which he praised Hezbollah fighters killed in combat, referring to them as “heroic martyrs.” Given his position at one of the world’s busiest airports, the posts alarmed intelligence agencies and led British Airways to promptly alert national security services. The airline described the incident as “extremely serious.”
Zayir UK, the organization run by Harake and his 28-year-old wife Zeinab Basma, a graduate of University College London (UCL), has reportedly raised over £300,000. Much of the funding came through donation drives at prominent academic institutions including UCL, King’s College London and SOAS, often with the support of religious student groups. However, Zayir UK is not registered with the UK’s Charity Commission, the body responsible for overseeing charitable organizations in England and Wales.
The Times’ investigation alleges that Zayir UK has connections to the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of Hezbollah, and that videos and images from the organization’s activities show its leaders alongside Hezbollah-affiliated symbols. The report also claims Harake has acknowledged communication with Hezbollah’s social services in Lebanon. Moreover, Zayir UK’s Facebook page previously featured funeral notices for prominent Hezbollah members, though those posts have since been deleted.
Adding to the controversy is the involvement of Shiite cleric Hussein Makki, one of Zayir UK’s key supporters. Makki has participated in events in the UK where Lebanese and Palestinian flags were displayed and slogans seen as sympathetic to Hezbollah were chanted. Notably, his visa was revoked in Australia after he was seen attending the funeral of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.
The UK’s Charity Commission confirmed that Zayir UK’s application for charitable status had been rejected following a detailed review of its activities and aims. A spokesperson emphasized that organizations seeking charitable status must demonstrate a commitment to serving the public interest without political or sectarian affiliations.
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