Sheikh Yasser al-Habib, a controversial Shia Muslim cleric, is raising funds to buy Torsa, a private island in Scotland, to establish an Islamic state. Al-Habib, who came to Britain after being imprisoned in Kuwait for sectarianism and losing his citizenship, plans to create a community for his Mahdi Servants Union on the island.
The cleric envisions Torsa, also known as Thor’s Island, as a sanctuary for Shia Islamists awaiting the Mahdi, a key figure in Shia Islam believed to bring justice in the end times. “If you want to live free under the banner of the imam, in a special homeland where you feel everything in it reminds you of the awaited Mahdi, everything is the Shia homeland, support this project,” al-Habib declared in a broadcast on Fadak TV, his satellite channel in Buckinghamshire, England.
Al-Habib has already been organizing “boot camps” in England for his followers, who wear military-style uniforms. His plans for the island include creating a self-sufficient community with its own army, justice system, schools, and hospitals.
Sarah Zaaimi, a spokeswoman for the Atlantic Council, has voiced concerns about al-Habib’s project, warning that it could lead to the formation of an isolated, self-governed enclave with little integration into the broader society.
This development comes at a time when Scotland recently had Humza Yousaf, a Pakistani-heritage Muslim, as its First Minister. Yousaf has been known for his criticism of white influence in the country. Al-Habib’s plans are part of a broader pattern of Islamic extremists exploiting Britain’s asylum laws to establish themselves within the country. The European Court of Human Rights protects such individuals from deportation to countries where they might face severe punishment.
Local authorities and the community will be keeping a close watch on the situation to ensure that any developments are in the best interest of public safety and societal harmony. The potential establishment of an Islamic state on Torsa raises significant questions about integration, security, and the impact on the local community.
