Charity Commission issues regulatory advice to King’s College London Students’ Union after UKLFI complaint
The Charity Commission has issued regulatory advice and guidance to King’s College London Students’ Union following concerns raised by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) about fundraising by one of its affiliated student societies for an organisation alleged to have links with Hezbollah.
The Commission has told UKLFI that it has now completed its assessment of the concerns relating to King’s College London Students’ Union (KCLSU), a registered charity.
In its response, the Commission said:
“Following consideration of the available information, the Commission engaged with the Charity and issued regulatory advice and guidance”.
UKLFI reported KCLSU to the Charity Commission in August 2026 after investigating links between the KCL Ahlulbayt Islamic Society (KCL ABSoc), Zayir UK and the Zayer Charity Association in Lebanon.
UKLFI’s complaint said that KCL ABSoc had repeatedly collaborated with and promoted fundraising for Zayir UK, which UKLFI described as an unregistered organisation with apparent connections to the Lebanese Zayer Charity Association and Hezbollah.
UKLFI had previously written directly to KCLSU’s trustees on 18 July, warning that its investigation had identified evidence which, in UKLFI’s view, indicated close connections between Zayir UK, the Lebanese organisation and Hezbollah. The letter said the concerns engaged the trustees’ responsibilities under charity law and Charity Commission guidance relating to charities and terrorism.
According to UKLFI’s evidence, KCL ABSoc held a “Mawlid” event in December 2025 at which “all raffle proceeds” were said to be going to Zayir UK. It had also promoted an “Emergency Appeal Lebanon”, saying it had “joined forces with Zayir UK”, and advertised a March 2026 annual potluck iftar “in collaboration with” the organisation. KCL ABSoc subsequently thanked Zayir UK as a sponsor.
The material submitted to the Commission also identified a KCL student associated with KCL ABSoc who described herself on LinkedIn as a “Charity Volunteer” with Zayir UK.
UKLFI’s wider report cited statements attributed to people associated with the Lebanese Zayer Charity Association concerning co-operation with Hezbollah-linked social work structures. It also documented social-media material which UKLFI said included tributes to killed Hezbollah fighters and imagery featuring the Hezbollah emblem.
When UKLFI submitted its concerns in August, the Charity Commission confirmed that it would review the information provided, assess any risk to the charitable sector or beneficiaries and prioritise the case accordingly.
A UKLFI spokesperson said:
“We welcome the fact that the Charity Commission took our concerns seriously enough to engage directly with King’s College London Students’ Union and to issue regulatory advice and guidance.
“Student unions are charities, and their trustees have important responsibilities to exercise proper oversight over the activities and fundraising of affiliated societies. Where concerns are raised about an organisation’s possible connections with a proscribed terrorist organisation, proper due diligence is essential.
“We hope that the Commission’s intervention will ensure that KCLSU, and other students’ unions, put appropriate safeguards in place before allowing affiliated societies to collaborate with or fundraise for outside organisations.”
The Commission has now closed its regulatory case
Posted Sep 25, 2026, 7:49 PM UTC