iERA

iERA is registered as a charity in the UK. In addition, the charity was incorporated as a company on 23 June 2009. The charity is a company limited by guarantee. It has no share capital.[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/06941044 Companies House], Islamic Education and Research Academy (IERA), company number 06941044, Overview. (There was also a private limited company called "Islamic Education and Research Academy Ltd" ran by the same people who run iERA, which was registered as a company on 23 December 2008 as company number 06778858, and dissolved on 24 September 2013.)[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/06778858 Companies House], Islamic Education and Research Academy Ltd, company number 06778858, Overview.

In the year ending 30 June 2015, the charity's income and expenditure were as follows:

• Income: £657,892, made up of:
• Voluntary: £637.8k
• Charitable activities: £20.0k
• Spending: £634,946, made up of:
• Generating voluntary income: £140.2k
• Charitable activities: £463.7k
• Governance £31.0k

As a UK charity, iERA has registered trustees. The trustees in the period 2010 to 2016 were:

• Mr Anthony Waclaw G Green, chairman.{{Not a typo|[http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends66/0001134566_AC_20110630_E_C.pdf Islamic Education and Research Academy (IERA) Financial Statements, 30 June 2011, Charity Number 1134566] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123035826/http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends66/0001134566_AC_20110630_E_C.pdf |date=23 January 2017 }}, received 7 December 2012.[http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends66/0001134566_AC_20120630_E_C.pdf Islamic Education and Research Academy (IERA) Financial Statements, 30 June 2012, Charity Number 1134566], received 29 April 2013. [http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends66/0001134566_AC_20130630_E_C.pdf Islamic Education and Research Academy (IERA) Financial Statements, 30 June 2013, Charity Number 1134566], received 30 April 2014. [http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends66/0001134566_AC_20140630_E_C.pdf Islamic Education and Research Academy (IERA) Financial Statements, 30 June 2014, Charity Number 1134566], received 14 April 2015.

[http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends66/0001134566_AC_20150630_E_C.pdf Islamic Education and Research Academy (IERA) Financial Statements, 30 June 2015, Charity Number 1134566], received 10 March 2016.

[http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/ContactAndTrustees.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1134566&SubsidiaryNumber=0&TID=11269542 Charity Commission, Charity 1134566 Islamic Education and Research Academy (IERA), Trustees] Green is also known as "Abdurraheem Green".[http://standforpeace.org.uk/islamic-education-and-research-academy-iera/#_edn79 Stand For Peace], Islamic Education and Research Academy (iERA), 18 February 2014.}}

• Mr Saqib Jameel Sattar, vice-chairman.{{Not a typo|}}
• Mr Nasser Ali Khan.{{Not a typo|}}
• Mr Tim J Chambers, listed as company secretary in the 2010–11, 2011–12 and 2013–14 accounts. Resigned 24 April 2015.{{Not a typo| Chambers is also known as "Yusuf Chambers".
• Mr KI Hussain. Retired/resigned 4 April 2014.{{Not a typo|}}
• Mrs SK Mirza, 2010–11 and 2011–12 accounts only.}}
• Ms S Mehdi, 2010–11 and 2011–12 accounts only.{{Not a typo|}}

The board of trustees oversee the running of the charity. They are not paid for their work as trustees (though did receive travel and subsistence expenses). The trustees are also directors of iERA for the purpose of company law. The charity pays staff and consultants to do the work of the charity. The charity has paid for the professional services of three of the trustees, and of the sister of one of the trustees.

In 2010 iERA commissioned a study, undertaken by DJS Research, on negative perceptions of Islam and found that three-quarters of non-Muslims believe Islam was negative for Britain.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/aug/02/poll-islam-negative-britain|title=Three-quarters of non-Muslims believe Islam negative for Britain|first1=Haroon|last1= Siddique|work=the Guardian|date=2 August 2010}}

In September 2012 iERA wrote a lengthy critique challenging writer Tom Holland's Channel 4 documentary Islam: The Untold Story that questioned parts of the story of the origins of Islam. The Islamic Education and Research Academy said it was historically inaccurate and biased.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19464484|title=BBC News - Channel 4's Islam film sparks row|work=bbc.co.uk|date= 3 September 2012| access-date=6 November 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/02/islam-television-complaints-ofcom?newsfeed=true|title=Islam TV show triggers deluge of Ofcom complaints|first1=Ben|last1= Quinn|date= 2 September 2012| work=the Guardian}}

iERA projects its message in two main ways. One is by acting as a proactive organization, facilitating missionary activities to promote Islam. The other is by serving as an aggregating organization which coordinates and pays its affiliate preachers.

In March 2017, iERA like other organizations, released a statement condemning the Westminster Attack, saying, "iERA condemns the heinous attack in London that has resulted in the deaths of civilians and a Policeman. Our sincere condolences and prayers are with the families of the victims. In an age of hate and misunderstanding, iERA seeks to share the true message of Islam in an intelligent and compassionate way, thereby building bridges and removing enmity."{{Cite web|url=https://www.iera.org/statement-on-the-london-terror-attack/|title=Statement on the London Terror Attack – iERA – Conveying The Call|website=www.iera.org|language=en|date=22 March 2017|access-date=2017-03-31}}

iERA has been the subject of controversy due to actions and statements made by the organisation and associated representatives. iERA claims that some of the controversy is based on statements that have been taken out of context, exaggerated or fabricated.{{cite news|last1=James|first1=Sam Burne|date=27 May 2014|title=Islamic charity rejects report labelling it as a 'hate group'|publisher=Third Sector|url=https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/islamic-charity-rejects-report-labelling-hate-group/governance/article/1295981|access-date=4 May 2018}} In 2012 Green was barred from speaking at the Emirates Stadium following community concern and, in 2015, "after concern from the local community, including local Jewish people", he was banned from St. James's Park.{{cite news|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/islamic-preacher-abdur-raheem-green-9290593 |title=Islamic preacher Abdur Raheem Green banned from St James Park by Newcastle United |author=Proctor, Kate|date=20 May 2015|work=Chronicle live|access-date=21 May 2015}}{{cite news|title=Jeremy Corbyn, friend to Hamas, Iran and extremists|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11749043/Andrew-Gilligan-Jeremy-Corbyn-friend-to-Hamas-Iran-and-extremists.html|access-date=9 August 2016|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=18 Jul 2015|author= Andrew Gilligan}}{{Unreliable source?|date=August 2016}} On 30 November 2014, Andrew Gilligan reported in The Daily Telegraph that the several young men from the Hampshire city who traveled together to fight for Islamic State (ISIL) in Syria had at one time proselytized in the streets with iERA material on behalf of Mission Dawah, a team that is part of iERA.{{cite news|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11263309/Terror-link-charities-get-British-millions-in-Gift-Aid.html|title= 'Terror link' Charities get British Millions in Gift Aid|date= 29 November 2014| access-date=6 December 2014|author=Andrew Gilligan|author-link=Andrew Gilligan|newspaper= The Telegraph}}{{Unreliable source?|date=August 2016}} iERA responded by stating the individuals were not part of their organisation and followed up with an open letter to the editor challenging the report, saying that Gilligan quoted its speakers out of context and was "fuelling an atmosphere of hate and fear of Muslims".{{cite web|url= http://www.iera.org/media/define-extremism-an-open-letter-to-the-editor-of-the-telegraph|title= Define Extremism: An Open Letter to the Editor of the Telegraph|access-date=6 December 2014|author=Saqib Sattar, Vice-Chairman, iERA|publisher= iERA}}

iERA, under its platform The Big Debates, organised a debate on 9 March 2013 in a room iERA hired at University College London (UCL) between Lawrence Krauss and Hamza Andreas Tzortzis entitled "Islam or Atheism: Which Makes More Sense?". IERA's original intentions were to segregate the audience by gender.{{cite web|url=http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0313/11032013-meeting |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314084103/http://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0313/11032013-meeting |archive-date=14 March 2013 |title=IERA event at UCL on 9 March |date=11 March 2013 |publisher=ucl.ac.uk |access-date=11 March 2013 }} This was directly contrary to UCL policy, and UCL required the organisers to make it explicit to attendees that seating arrangements were optional, and guests were welcome to sit wherever they felt comfortable. However, UCL was notified by some individuals that attempts were made to enforce segregation at the meeting. Krauss was quoted on Twitter as saying that he almost "walked out of IERA debate as it ended up segregated." However, the debate went ahead as planned after seating arrangements were discarded.

Zayd Tutton of the iERA disputed Krauss' account of events. Speaking to the Huffington Post UK, Tutton stated that "There were three sections as agreed with UCL prior to the debate. This was agreed clearly with UCL representatives. Muslim women choosing to adhere to orthodox Islamic principles in sitting in their own area had their own section. As for those who wanted to sit together, male or female, they had their own section where they freely mixed and sat together from the beginning." Tutton also said the "three kids" mentioned by Krauss were in fact two men who forcibly tried to sit in the female section, stating, "When arguing it was about sitting in any area in the auditorium, they were offered an entirely free aisle in the aforementioned Muslim female section, but insisted that they wanted to sit in between the Muslim females, with a view to offending their religious beliefs".{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/03/10/segregated-seating-row-at-ucl-debate_n_2848326.html|title=Segregated Seating Row At UCL Debate Between Islam And Atheism|publisher=huffingtonpost.co.uk|last = Moseley| first= Tom| date = 10 March 2013| access-date=6 November 2014}}

iERA has been banned from holding events at UCL, which concluded that iERA "had attempted to enforce segregation at the debate on 9 March" 2013.{{cite news|last1=Batty|first1=David|date= 15 March 2013 | title=UCL bans Islamic group from campus in row over segregated seating|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/15/ucl-bans-islamic-group-over-segregation|website=Guardian|access-date=29 September 2014}} UCL released a statement stating that "We do not allow enforced segregation on any grounds [but] it now appears that, despite our clear instructions, attempts were made to enforce segregation at the meeting". The statement went on to say that "... their interests are contrary to UCL's ethos and that we should not allow any further events involving them to take place on UCL premises".

A report from Universities UK states that "concerns to accommodate the wishes or beliefs of those opposed to segregation should not result in a religious group being prevented from having a debate in accordance with its belief system ... if imposing an unsegregated seating area in addition to the segregated areas contravenes the genuinely held religious beliefs of the group hosting the event, or those of the speaker, the institution should be mindful to ensure that the freedom of speech of the religious group or speaker is not curtailed unlawfully."{{Citation|url=http://www.iera.org/press-releases/universities-uk-report-vindicates-iera-policies-on-separate-seating-at-events|title=iERA | Universities UK Report Vindicates iERA Policies - iERA|publisher=iera.org|access-date=6 November 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/outcry-at-gender-apartheid-in-new-guidance-for-uk-universities-8997861.html|title=Outcry at 'gender apartheid' in new guidance for UK universities|newspaper=The Independent|last1=Kirk|first1=Ashley J|date=11 December 2013|access-date=22 January 2017}}

In 2014, the Charity Commission started investigating the IERA over a number of "regulatory issues" surrounding its policies for organising events and inviting external speakers.{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-university-bans-preacher-who-calls-homosexuality-a-filthy-disease-9879579.html|title= London university bans preacher who calls homosexuality a 'filthy' disease|access-date=24 Nov 2014|author=David Churchill|date= 24 November 2014|publisher= Evening Standard, 24 Nov 2014.}} Telegraph wrote that the iERA was being investigated by the Charity Commission "amid allegations that its leaders promote anti-Semitism and have called for homosexuals and adulterers to be stoned to death". The Charity Commission published its report in November 2016. The Charity was allowed to continue to operate even though "there has been misconduct and mismanagement in the charity's administration".{{citation |title=Inquiry Report, Islamic Education and Research Academy (IERA) |date=4 November 2016 |page=8 |publisher=Charity Commission for England and Wales |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/565354/islamic_education_and_research_academy_iera.pdf }}

Hamza Tzortzis, a British Muslim convert of Greek heritage, was chairman of the launch event of iERA.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/7012827/Speaker-with-extremist-links-to-address-Detroit-bombers-former-student-group.html |title=Speaker with extremist links to address Detroit bomber's former student group|access-date=8 May 2016|author=Andrew Gilligan|date=18 January 2010 |author-link=Andrew Gilligan|publisher=The Telegraph, 18 January 2010}}{{Unreliable source?|date=August 2016}} He was at one time associated with extreme positions and extremists.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YxeiAwAAQBAJ&dq=hamza+tzortzis&pg=PA127 |title=Citizen Islam: The Future of Muslim Integration in the West|page=127|author=Zeyno Baran |author2=Emmet Tuohy |publisher=Continuum Publishing Group|year=2011|isbn=978-1-4411-3050-1|access-date=28 June 2016}} Tzortzis has tried to distance himself from allegations of extremism and denies that he ever had such views, and says he preaches about peace and compassion.{{cite web|url= http://www.news.com.au/national/socalled-radical-aiming-to-speak-at-australian-muslim-conference-declares-im-a-peaceful-hippy/news-story/01a8f4e1e7f42653618ebdb512d9c5b1 |title= So-called radical aiming to speak at Australian Muslim conference declares: 'I'm a peaceful hippie'|access-date= 8 August 2016|author=Rohan Smith |publisher= news.com.au, 17 February 2016}}

Zakir Naik was at one time an advisor to the iERA.{{cite book|title=Evangelising Hate: Islamic Education and Research Academy (iERA) |url=http://ex-muslim.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/EvangelisingHate_Report_Web.pdf |publisher=Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain| date = May 2014 |access-date=30 July 2016| isbn = 978-0-9926038-1-6}} Naik is an Indian Islamic preacher,Hope, Christopher. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/7836557/Home-secretary-Theresa-May-bans-radical-preacher-Zakir-Naik-from-entering-UK.html "Home secretary Theresa May bans radical preacher Zakir Naik from entering UK"]. The Daily Telegraph. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2011. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223231604/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/7836557/Home-secretary-Theresa-May-bans-radical-preacher-Zakir-Naik-from-entering-UK.html |date=23 December 2011 }} 7 August 2011.Shukla, Ashutosh. [http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_muslim-group-welcomes-ban-on-preacher_1399601 "Muslim group welcomes ban on preacher"]. Daily News and Analysis. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2011. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113101139/http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_muslim-group-welcomes-ban-on-preacher_1399601 |date=13 January 2012 }} 7 August 2011. who has been banned from entering the UK amid security concerns.

Bilal Philips is or was an advisor to iERA. Philips is a Canadian Muslim teacher, speaker, and author who lives in Qatar.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/radical-sheik-refused-entry-for-islamic-talks/news-story/c4c9ff794947e60a361af85e6f4084cd |newspaper=news.com.au|title=Radical sheik refused entry for Islamic talks|date=March 17, 2009|access-date=2017-03-04}} He has been banned or deported from Britain.{{cite web|url=http://standforpeace.org.uk/islamic-education-and-research-academy-iera/#_edn62|title=Islamic Education and Research Academy (iERA)|work=Stand for Peace}} Monitoring of the iERA website by the Charity Commission in 2014-15 identified a partnership between iERA and an organisation founded by Philips.{{citation |title=Inquiry Report, Islamic Education and Research Academy (IERA) |date=4 November 2016 |page=4 |publisher=Charity Commission for England and Wales |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/565354/islamic_education_and_research_academy_iera.pdf }} iERA vice-chairman responded by stating the organisation has mechanisms in place to manage risk and demonstrate compliance.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/12/leading-islamic-charity-told-by-watchdog-to-distance-itself-from/ |title=Leading Islamic charity told by watchdog to distance itself from extremism |access-date=13 January 2019|author=Camilla Turner|newspaper=The Telegraph |date=12 November 2016 |publisher=The Telegraph, 12 November 2019}} As a result of a regulatory order by the Charity Commission, iERA "has ceased all working relationships with the organisation and have no intention to collaborate or partner with it in the future... furthermore, the board of trustees will inform the Commission in advance if they do plan to work with the organisation in the future and seek its counsel".{{citation |title=Inquiry Report, Islamic Education and Research Academy (IERA) |date=4 November 2016 |page=9 |publisher=Charity Commission for England and Wales |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/565354/islamic_education_and_research_academy_iera.pdf }}

• [http://www.iera.ca/ iERA Canada]
• [http://www.iera.org/ iERA Sweden]

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.iera.org.uk Homepage of the iERA] {{Webarchive|url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20101116200255/http://www.iera.org.uk/ |date=2010-11-16 }}
• [https://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/7235/1/Baz17PhD.pdf Online Islamic Da'wah narratives in the UK: the Case of iERA]

Category:Conversion to Islam

Category:Islamic organisations based in the United Kingdom