Sheikh Yasser al-Habib, a Shia Muslim cleric from Kuwait, is raising funds to purchase Torsa, a private island in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides, with the goal of establishing an Islamic state. Al-Habib, who fled to Britain after being imprisoned for sectarian activities and losing his Kuwaiti citizenship, aims to create a sanctuary for Shia Islamists awaiting the return of the Mahdi, a key figure in Shia Islam.

Al-Habib’s vision for Torsa includes a self-contained community for his Mahdi Servants Union, complete with its own army, justice system, schools, and hospitals. “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 said in a broadcast on his satellite channel, Fadak TV, which operates out of Buckinghamshire, England.

The cleric has already organized “boot camps” for his followers in England, where participants don military-style uniforms. His plans for the island have raised alarms among some observers.

Sarah Zaaimi from the Atlantic Council voiced concerns about the potential implications of al-Habib’s project, warning that it could lead to the creation of an isolated community with its own parallel systems of governance and limited integration into broader society.

Scotland recently had Humza Yousaf, a Pakistani-heritage Muslim, as its First Minister, known for his criticism of white influence in the country. Al-Habib’s plans are part of a trend where Islamic extremists exploit Britain’s asylum laws to establish themselves in the country. The European Court of Human Rights prevents the deportation of individuals to countries where they might face severe punishment, providing protection for people like al-Habib.

As al-Habib continues to push forward with his plans, the local and national governments, along with concerned citizens, will be closely monitoring the situation to ensure that any developments align with the broader interests and safety of the community.