UK: ‘Islamic sect’ members arrested following allegations of sexual abuse and slavery

LONDON: More than 500 police officers raided an "Islamic sect” on Wednesday and arrested 10 members for various offences, including rape, sexual assault and human trafficking.

The officers, under the watch of a police helicopter, raided the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) headquarters situated at a former orphanage, Webb House, Crewe, where around 150 adults and children live, along with two other properties, at 8.50am local time. One of those arrested was the group’s spiritual leader, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Safiq.

Seven men, of American, British, Mexican, Spanish, German and Egyptian nationality, were arrested for a range of offences, including human trafficking, forced marriage, sexual assault, modern slavery, rape and assault. Three women, of Italian, Swedish and American nationality, were all arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences and sexual assault.

A further 13 people were arrested on suspicion of public order offences inside the property.

Cheshire police said that last month they were made aware of allegations of serious sexual offences, forced marriage and slavery, reported to have taken place in 2023, all involving one woman who was a member of the group.

AROPL is a millenarian religious movement with roots in Twelver Shia Islam. It has no connection to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. It began in Basra, Iraq in the late 1990s, explained Dr Sarah Harvey, senior research officer at Inform, and is now active across 40 countries.

In 2018, the movement was based in Sweden but, following raids by Swedish police, in 2021, it set up its headquarters in England. Followers wear black beanies and many of its beliefs, such as allowing the consumption of alcohol, diverge from Islam, which has led to the group’s religious persecution in many Muslim-majority countries. The group believes that the Illuminati controls America and that aliens control US presidents.

Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley said: “While those arrested are members of the group, this is not an investigation into the religion, this is an investigation into the serious allegations.”