Latest news with #SayedHusseinMakke
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Islamic cleric running 'spiritual warrior' training camp which teaches young men about 'God-centric masculinity' in Peak District
An Islamic cleric who described a notorious terrorist as one of the world's 'greatest freedom fighters' is running a 'spiritual warrior' summer training camp for young men in the Peak District. Sayed Hussein Makke, a Shia preacher and influencer who has mourned members of Hezbollah and Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), combines physical training with religious education and teachings about 'God-centric masculinity'. In March, the London-born preacher was banned from entering Australia after the government revoked his visa at the eleventh hour when it emerged he had attended the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. He also called Nasrallah one of the world's 'greatest freedom fighters' and said the large turnout at his funeral showed the 'resistance' was 'alive and well', Sky News reported at the time. Narallah was responsible for the death of thousands of innocent lives around the world during his three-decade reign of Hezbollah - a Lebanese terrorist organisation which is proscribed in the UK. Mr Makke also shared a tribute to Mohamed Balbaaki, a British friend who died while fighting for Hezbollah. He is seen crouching next to a shrine of him, with the caption: 'I miss you forever.' Lawyers for Mr Makke insist he is not a member of - and has not provided support - to any proscribed organisation, The Telegraph reports. The Daily Mail has contacted Mr Makke for comment. The preacher is running a summer camp at Darwin Lake, in Derbyshire, between July 30 and August 3. Promotional videos show young men boxing, tackling each other and completing training exercises - or listening to clerics and praying. It is described as offering a 'curriculum based on man psychology', exploring God-centric masculinity, brotherhood, strength, business, faith, courage, relationships and spirituality and knowledge. The camp offers to claim Olympic level wrestling coaches, striking coaches, fitness coaches, business coaches and Islamic scholars as well as instructors Mr Makke and Hassan Chami. There is no suggestion the camp is training people to engage in violence. Describing how the 'spiritual warrior' movement began, they say on their website: 'Men no longer know how to be men, and women no longer know how to be women. 'It is said that man – in his hypocrisy – rebelled against God, and so woman rebelled against man, leaving the world in its current state of chaos. 'Spiritual Warrior was designed as an answer to your chaos. It speaks to the disorderly voice within each of us which, when not understood, incarcerates our yearning for a deeper life.' They say to be a spiritual warrior, you must embark on a 'journey of self-discovery' and 'must not be paralysed by fear'. Among those speaking at the camp is Shia cleric Sheikh Salman Zaarour who can be seen standing above a fire telling young men to 'reflect on our destinies' at a previous course. Mr Makke also offers weekly one-to-one sessions on his 'King Program' which is 'based on the masculine archetypes - king, warrior, magician, lover'. Boxing is also involved at the Islamic cleric's fitness camp in the Peak District Spiritual Warrior's website says it is not accepting new applications as the waiting list is so long. Mr Makke also sells products including a pill to 'boost libido' for those embarking on the 'spiritual warrior path'. On social media, Mr Makke said: '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.'
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Radical Islamic cleric leads Peak District spiritual and fitness camp
A radical Islamic cleric who has supported members of Hezbollah is running a summer camp that combines combat training with religious education in the Peak District this week. Sayed Hussein Makke, a London-born Shia preacher and influencer, has mourned members of the Lebanese terror group – including a British friend who died fighting for Hezbollah – and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Earlier this year, his visa to visit Australia was revoked after Sky News reported that he had allegedly hailed Hassan Nasrallah, a Hezbollah leader killed in an Israeli air strike last year, as one of the world's 'greatest freedom fighters'. It was claimed that Mr Makke, who attended Nesrallah's funeral, had celebrated the number of mourners as evidence that the 'resistance' was 'alive and well'. The military wing of Hezbollah has been proscribed in the UK under counter-terror laws since 2008, and its political wing was banned in 2019. Lawyers for Mr Makke said he was not a member of, and had not provided support to, any proscribed organisation. The cleric is currently promoting a physical and Islamic training camp for young British men in the Peak District from Wednesday, July 30, to Aug 3. The camp, known as the Spiritual Warrior Project and held at Darwin Lake in Derbyshire, offers 'Olympic-level wrestling' alongside religious education by a cleric. The course is described as focusing on 'God-centric masculinity' and 'man psychology'. Applicants are asked how much they value 'discipline' and 'brotherhood'. Promotional material for the course says: 'Brotherhood is to trust your comrades – to know that you and your mission go further together than you could ever do by yourself. Spiritual Warriors live, eat and breathe brotherhood.' Speakers at the event include Sheikh Salman Zaarour, a Shia cleric who at a previous course is shown standing above a fire at nightfall guiding young men to 'reflect on our destinies'. An Instagram post shared by an account named Jafar Hammoud on Oct 7 last year, the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel, features Mr Zaarour with fellow students at a seminary in Lebanon. The post is captioned 'war nights' and states that 'victory is near'. In a separate programme called the 'One-on-One King Programme', Mr Makke offers private mentoring to men and is said to explore 'the masculine archetypes – king, warrior, magician, lover,'in a programme tailored to overcome personal weakness and 'maximise potential'. Mr Makke also sells oil-based products, including a pill to 'boost libido' for customers embarking on the 'spiritual warrior path'. In a response shared by a legal group on his behalf, Mr Makke claimed media reports about Spiritual Warrior Project were an 'attempt to stir up hatred against our camp attendees'.
