A woman reportedly became a victim of sexual assault after being enticed to join a religious group based in a heavily secured former orphanage in Cheshire, a courtroom heard today.

The group’s leader, Abdullah Hashem, associated with the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, is among ten individuals taken into custody during a police operation conducted on Wednesday, according to reports.

Following the presentation of the allegations, the judge has enacted temporary slavery and trafficking risk orders against Hashem and four other individuals, which include three men and a woman.

Abdullah Hashem, a 42-year-old American also known by the name Abdullah Hashem Aba al-Sadiq, alongside the other suspects, has been released on bail as investigations continue.

Approximately 500 police officers conducted a raid on the group’s Crewe premises, a Grade II-listed property, as part of an extensive probe into claims of rape, modern slavery, and forced marriage.

The court heard that the alleged victim had relocated to the UK from her native country under misleading promises of a better life, subsequently becoming involved with the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light.

But after selling her home and giving up control of her finances and her travel documentation, she was subjected to sexual and physical abuse, a judge was told.

However after being taken to Sweden by the group, she managed to raise the alarm while being brought back via the Republic of Ireland, it was alleged, and police began investigating.

Webb House, the Cheshire headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) pictured after dozens of police cars swooped on the compound

Officers had a warrant to search the premises and two other addresses on Wednesday

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claims to have been contacted by the group online, Chester magistrates court heard.

Members allegedly visited her in her home country, and in 2023 she is said to have agreed to sell her property and move to the UK.

But after being brought to Webb House she was subjected to offences including forced marriage, rape and assault by penetration, prosecutor Catherine Elvin said.

One of the suspects allegedly forced her to marry another member of the group. He is also said to have sexually assaulted her on one occasion and overseen other sexual abuse.

Another is said to have arranged her travel to the UK while a third allegedly persuaded her to sell her possessions and join the group.

A fourth suspect is said to have pinned the woman down while she was sexually assaulted, Ms Elvin said.

The final suspect is accused of punching and kicking the woman over the use of one of her bank cards when she was in Sweden.

In addition to Mr Hashem, those made subject to the orders are: Ali Muhammad, who is 35 and British, Veronica Carla Esponda, 44 and Italian, Eyad Elkhouly, 44 and German, and Kevin Omar Rodriguez-Ponce, 30 and Mexican.

They were among seven men and three women arrested when police raided Webb House, which the hearing was told is protected by high fences, bodyguards and a robotic dog.

Police stand by evidence tents as they attend the compound of the AROPL

There was a heavy police presence outside court during today’s hearing, which none of the suspects attended.

District Judge Owen Jones granted interim orders for six months.

The five individuals are required to hand over passports or other travel documents such as national identity cards.

They are also banned from contacting the complainant, having any unsupervised contact with any child under 18, or having control of any bank card belonging to another person.

The civil orders also ban the five individuals from entering Crewe.

In addition they must not transport anyone other than their own children or facilitate people being housed under their ‘control or influence’.

After the hearing Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley of Cheshire Police said: ‘I welcome the granting of these orders, and I hope that they provide some reassurance to the local community.

‘Our priority is always the safety of the public, and while our investigation continues, these orders will provide additional restrictions to ensure there is no risk to the public and other members of the group.

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) is operating out of a heavily guarded former orphanage in Cheshire (pictured in 2025)

‘Over the weekend we will continue to have a large police presence at the site while we continue with our searches and to provide reassure, and I would urge anyone with any concerns to speak to an officer.

‘I would also like to reiterate that is not an investigation into the religion, our investigation solely focuses on the serious allegations which have been reported to us.

‘I’d also remind residents that this remains a live investigation which will take some time, and I would ask that people do not speculate while the case remains ongoing.’

AROPL was previously based in Sweden but relocated to Crewe in 2021.

It is understood that prior to the police raid around 150 followers lived in the £2million Cheshire building, including families with children who are home schooled there.

Webb House was originally built as orphanage for children of railway workers who had lost their parents in work-related accidents until 1961 and later became British Rail offices and an NHS specialist mental health facility.

AROPL says it is a peaceful religious movement derived from Shia Islam – the second-largest branch of Islam – that has been persecuted around the world due to its belief in equality and human rights.

It describes itself as the ‘fulfilment of prophecy as per the narrations and scriptures of the Abrahamic faiths’ – a term for the elements shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

The group has no connection with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, often known as Ahmadis.

Lawyers for AROPL say the sect advocates for mainstream medical advice from the NHS in the UK and there is no requirement that other members should sell property or give up salaries.

They say children living there are home-schooled by their individual parents with the approval of the local education authority which monitors their progress.

Following the raid they said AROPL was co-operating with the investigation.