Terror funding investigation underway at Royal Holloway

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been alerted by a student at Royal Holloway, University of London that the Friends of Palestine Society — a society affiliated with the University Students’ Union — has fundraised for Zayir UK, an unregistered fundraising vehicle with alleged links to proscribed group Hizballah.

On 8th April 2026, Friends of Palestine Soc posted on its Instagram account that it had donated £1,820 to Zayir UK, ostensibly to support humanitarian aid in Lebanon. Two Students’ Union officers apparently praised the initiative on social media by reacting with positive emojis.

This does not appear to be a one-off donation. On 4th January 2025, Friends of Palestine Soc posted on its Instagram account that it had raised £3,425 for charities supporting aid distribution in Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories. The Society stated that 30% of donations would go to Zayir UK.

Zayir UK is an unregistered funding vehicle founded by Hussein Harake, a UK-based individual. He runs the organisation with his wife Zeinab Basma, an NHS doctor. It is the UK arm of the Lebanon-based Zayer Association for Social, Cultural and Charitable Work, of which Mr Harake is founder and President.

In May 2025, The Sunday Times revealed that Mr Harake previously praised Hizballah terrorists as “heroic martyrs” on social media. Harake, who was employed via a contractor as a security guard at a British Airways lounge at Heathrow Airport, was subsequently stripped of his airport security clearance following these revelations. In the article, Mr Harake is quoted as stating that his organisation has direct links to Hizballah’s social welfare structure. He said: “The charity, Zayer, is split into different departments […] we have a department for children, which is organised with the social work of Hizbollah.”

The organisation is registered in Haret Hreik, a Beirut suburb and known Hizballah stronghold.

According to The Jerusalem Post, Zayir UK’s Facebook page has in the past allegedly posted funeral tributes to senior Hizballah figures, which were later deleted.

The student sent a letter to, and later lodged a formal complaint with, the Royal Holloway Students’ Union. In response, the SU found that the 2025-2026 Friends of Palestine Society committee had failed to follow agreed procedures for charity donations, and the SU therefore had no knowledge of its fundraising activity. It said there is no evidence to suggest that SU officers knowingly engaged with the social media post announcing the distribution of funds by actively supporting the action.

Following the student’s submission of new evidence which alleged that the April 2026 donation to Zayir UK was not a one-off (but rather followed a prior donation in January 2025), the SU informed the student that it is investigating the organisation as of 22nd July 2026, and its activity will be temporarily suspended in the interim.

Zayir UK has allegedly raised over £300,000 via donation drives through campaigns at British universities, according to Jewish News and The Sunday Times. These include SOAS, UCL, KCL and Kent.

CAA has reported the incident to Counter Terrorism Policing and will be writing to the University and, in relation to the Students’ Union, the Charity Commission.

A student at Royal Holloway said: “If the Students’ Union itself has admitted that the society breached its rules and procedures on donations, why is it still allowed on campus? This is just one example in a long line of concerns about extremism and radicalisation at our universities. It doesn’t only put Jewish students at risk – it puts all students at risk.

“I urge the Home Secretary and new Education Secretary to do everything they can to stop student money funding Islamist terror networks in our universities, and call on the Government to intervene where there are serious concerns that universities are failing to act.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “These astonishing allegations illustrate how British campuses have become a breeding ground for extremism. Counter Terrorism Policing must investigate whether money knowingly or otherwise financed a proscribed terrorist organisation and take appropriately severe action against everyone involved.

“We welcome the Students’ Union’s suspension of the society pending an investigation, but Royal Holloway must also examine the conduct of these students and the Charity Commission must review the Students’ Union’s procedures and act accordingly. Each of these authorities must send a clear message that extremist ideologies have no place on campus and will be rooted out wherever they take hold.”

If any students are concerned about antisemitism on campus or need assistance, they can call us on 0330 822 0321, or e-mail [email protected].