Muslim travel agency YK Tours has become embroiled in a scandal after customers claimed their money was taken without a service being provided amid ongoing legal battles between the company’s leadership.
The London-based travel agents target their business at UK Muslims who seek halal holidays and Islamic travel packages, including Umrah.
However, 5Pillars understands that the company has been experiencing financial difficulties and has over the course of several months failed to provide its services, cancelling trips last minute and failing to issue refunds to angry customers.
According to information provided to 5Pillars, the total amount of money owed in compensation for failed or cancelled trips could be as high as £1.6 million.
Al Khaleel Tours, an Islamic educational brand which also arranges Umrah, Al Aqsa and other Islamic getaways, says it is one the “victims” after they paid for travel services with YK Tours in 2024 which never materialised.
After paying tens of thousands of pounds to Mr Yameen Thawa of YK Tours, the Al Khaleel Institute was informed via letter on October 11, 2024, of the trip’s cancelation.
The letter apologised for failing to secure the flights required and promised to repay funds at a later date.
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However, according to the Al Khaleel Tours, none of their funds have been returned to date despite repeated promises.
Speaking to 5Pillars, a senior figure behind Al Khaleel, Shaykh Suliman Gani, detailed his chaotic experience.
“Our recent experience with YK Tours and Yameen Thawa has been one of total disappointment underpinned by severe and ongoing breaches of trust. YK Tours accepted payment for 63 Umrah tickets for our October 2024 group, only to inform us, with three weeks remaining, that the booking could not be honoured.
“They committed to a full refund and compensation for replacement tickets, a promise documented in writing by Yameen Thawa.
“However, to date, we have received no payments, enduring a series of deceptive promises and even a false transfer image. We’ve since learned that over a hundred other customers are also impacted. A meeting on February 2nd 2025 with Yameen and his father, where they assured us of solicitor contact and immediate payments, again yielded no results.”
In the statement to 5Pillars, Shaykh Suliman also issued a legal warning over the unpaid funds.
“The financial burden is immense, as the group organisers used personal funds to rebook the trip and are now facing debt collection. We demand immediate resolution and full reimbursement to rectify this injustice (within 14 days hereof) for us and all customers otherwise will have no alternative but to instigate formal legal proceedings for the recovery of those monies. You are hereby put on notice.”
Many more complaints
5Pillars have been sent several videos of meetings being held by groups of men and families all claiming to have been left out of pocket by YK Tours.
Alleged victims have claimed that the number of people who have lost out are in the hundreds but no exact number can be confirmed.
At the end of 2024, as tensions rose amid the growing scandal, Islamic scholars from the London Iftar Council attempted to mediate the dispute after being requested to by “all parties concerned.”
However, after several failed attempts to negotiate and find an out-of-court solution to the dispute, the effort broke down forcing the council to release a statement explaining that their efforts had failed.
“We gave all parties ample opportunity, to provide evidence and support any claim they are making. This is paramount for any Islamic verdict to come to a scholarly conclusion.
“However we have thus come to the conclusion that there is no real intent to solve this matter amicably at an Islamic & community level… We therefore discontinue our involvement and advise all parties to take the appropriate action henceforth.
“Finally we urge all parties against taking the law into their own hands or using social media to defame anyone. This will only tarnish the reputation of the Muslim community.”
YK Tours leadership feud
Meanwhile, 5Pillars has learned that the two senior figures behind YK Tours are engaged in a bitter feud and legal battle over a series of allegations which include an alleged kidnapping.
5Pillars has also been made aware of death threats which have been sent to one of the men but it isn’t clear who sent the threat. A police investigation is underway.
YK Tours ltd is a registered company under Mr Khaled Bin Mohammed Sadique who was a business partner of Mr Yameen Thawa.
Since the scandal broke, 5Pillars has been in contact with Mr Sadique and the solicitor of Mr Thawa who have both made rival claims against each other over the handling of the company.
In a statement provided to 5Pillars, Mr Sadique attempted to distance himself from the scandal, claiming he was a “victim.”
“I and around another 40 customers have reported this fraud to the police, it is currently being investigated by the serious frauds office and they are going through all bank accounts involved.
“Like the customers, I am the biggest victim here, with a debt of 850k with family and friends and 800k with the customers. He has destroyed my life and my families and customers and their families.”
In a statement sent to 5Pillars via his legal representative, Mr Thawa issued a new promise to repay some of the missing funds and urged YK Tours owner Mr Sadique to do the same.
“I, Yameen Thawa, was involved in helping Khaled Bin Sadique set up and operate YK Tours, I would like to clarify that Khaled Bin Sadique is the sole owner of YK Tours and has full control over the business.
“After thoroughly reviewing the situation, I have committed to covering 50% of the outstanding debt to customers by the end of June 2025, I am working alongside lawyers and accountants to ensure this is handled properly.
“It would be hoped that, as the owner, Khaled would step forward to repay the remaining 50% owed to customers.
“I remain committed to working with professionals to fairly and equitably bringing a close to this chapter. My solicitor Mohammed Akunjee will be in contact with customers who are owed moneys closer the time.”
5Pillars understands that both Mr Sadique and Mr Thawa have paid some of the funds back to a number of customers already. However, a significant amount remains unpaid.
The website and social media posts on pages associated to YK Tours have been removed or deleted.
