An Islamic cleric who described slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as one of the world’s “greatest freedom fighters” is running a summer camp in Derbyshire that combines combat training with religious education, prompting concerns from Jewish community groups.
Sayed Hussein Makke, a London-born Shia preacher and influencer with 114,000 social media followers, is hosting the “Spiritual Warrior” camp at Darwin Lake in the Peak District from July 30 to August 3. The programme promises to teach young men “God-centric masculinity” alongside Olympic-level wrestling and combat skills.
The 33-year-old cleric was banned from entering Australia in March after it emerged he had attended Nasrallah’s funeral in Lebanon, where he praised the terrorist leader and said the large turnout showed the “resistance” was “alive and well. Hezbollah, which Nasrallah led for three decades, is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK responsible for thousands of deaths worldwide.
Links to Hezbollah Members
Makke has openly mourned members of both Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on social media. He shared a tribute to Mohamed Balbaaki, a British friend who died fighting for Hezbollah, posting a photo of himself crouching next to a shrine with the caption: “I miss you forever.
Following Nasrallah’s assassination by Israel in September 2024, Makke flooded Instagram with tributes to the slain terror chief. In one post, he declared he would have “undoubtedly chosen” Nasrallah “over my own daughter”. He referred to Nasrallah repeatedly as “my Sayed” and posted: “I’m staying on this ship even if I’m the last one left. I promise. I miss you so much tonight. Goodnight my Sayed.”
The cleric also posted about martyrdom, writing: “Martyrdom is life. Martyrdom is awakening.” Another post suggested Nasrallah’s death would increase “the ranks of the resistance in Lebanon”, adding: “The blood of these martyrs will form new fuel for the fire of resistance, which will not die down until the liberation of Palestine and all occupied Arab lands.
‘Spiritual Warrior’ Training Programme
The camp at Darwin Lake offers what it describes as a “curriculum based on man psychology”, exploring themes including God-centric masculinity, brotherhood, strength, business, faith, courage, relationships and spirituality. Promotional videos show young men boxing, wrestling, tackling each other and completing training exercises, as well as listening to Islamic clerics and praying.
“Men no longer know how to be men, and women no longer know how to be women,” the programme’s website states. 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.”
The camp promises instruction from Olympic-level wrestling coaches, striking coaches, fitness coaches, business coaches and Islamic scholars. Among the speakers is Sheikh Salman Zaarour, a pro-Iranian Shia cleric who provides “faith-based psychological and spiritual mentorship”. In footage from a previous course, Zaarour can be seen standing above a fire at nightfall, guiding young men to “reflect on our destinies”.
Makke also runs a separate “King Program” offering weekly one-to-one sessions based on “masculine archetypes – king, warrior, magician, lover”. The programme’s website states it is not accepting new applications due to an extensive waiting list.
Jewish Community Concerns
Derbyshire Jewish Community and the Community Security Trust (CST) have called on authorities to monitor the camp, expressing “deep alarm” over Makke’s background and associations. The concerns centre on his public support for Hezbollah members and his attendance at terrorist funerals.
Lawyers representing Makke insisted he is not a member of and has not provided support to any proscribed organisation. There is no suggestion the camp is training people to engage in violence.
In response to media coverage, Makke claimed on social media that criticism of the camp “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.
Through his lawyers, Makke added: “The Jewish Chronicle is an asset of a hostile foreign regime. Neither I nor anyone else involved in the Spiritual Warrior Project will take lectures from an institution whose purpose is to radicalise British Jewry to facilitate genocide in the Levant.”
Commercial Ventures
Beyond the training camps, Makke has developed various commercial ventures linked to his “spiritual warrior” philosophy. He sells products including pills marketed to “boost libido” for those embarking on the “spiritual warrior path”. Testimonials on the programme’s website describe dramatic personal transformations, with participants claiming to have gained muscle mass, given up “useless addictions like video games”, and experienced spiritual awakening.
One testimonial states: “Within the last three years, I have gained 40 pounds – most of it muscle, and I have had a complete shift in how I view my religion. I have not just developed motivation to make myself better, I have developed a road map to being successful with discipline.”
Background and Australia Ban
Makke was born in London in 1991 to Lebanese parents. He holds a BA in Journalism from Brunel University and an MA in Religions and Global Politics from SOAS University of London. He moved to Lebanon in 2012 to join a seminary and continues to reside there.
His visa revocation by Australian authorities in March came after intense media scrutiny, particularly from Sky News Australia journalist Sharri Markson, who accused him of spreading “dangerous views. Opposition politicians, including Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson, demanded action, stating: “No one who praises a deceased terrorist, let alone attends the funeral organised by a listed terrorist organisation, should be welcome in Australia.”
The ban was part of a broader Western crackdown on public figures expressing support for groups designated as terrorist organisations. British academic David Miller was detained at Heathrow Airport under the Terrorism Act after covering Nasrallah’s funeral, whilst other academics and journalists have faced similar scrutiny.
As the five-day camp begins in the Peak District, questions remain about the monitoring of such programmes and their potential influence on young British Muslims seeking guidance on masculinity and spirituality in an increasingly complex world.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
