In an unusual twist of faith, individuals from Western countries are taking to the internet to declare their allegiance to a controversial Islamic sect known for its apocalyptic beliefs and distinctive beanie hats. This group has recently come under scrutiny following allegations of sex abuse and enforced marriages.
Across social media platforms like TikTok, these self-proclaimed converts are publicly announcing their commitment to the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL), a sect that has raised eyebrows with its unconventional practices and beliefs.
In a series of videos, individuals from nations including Poland, Spain, France, and the United States can be seen reciting a pledge. This declaration signifies their loyalty to Imam Mahdi, a messianic figure in Islamic eschatology, revered as a savior.
These followers affirm their belief that the Mahdis are “the proof of Allah” and assert, “upon this I shall be resurrected again,” signaling their deep spiritual devotion.
This Shia sect, easily identified by its members’ black beanie hats, merges traditional Islamic teachings with conspiracy theories involving the Illuminati and extraterrestrial influences allegedly affecting U.S. presidents.
Prospective members are encouraged to record and share their pledges via the group’s website as a prerequisite for joining this enigmatic religious movement.
This week, AROPL made headlines after its leader, Abdullah Hashem, was among ten suspects arrested in a police raid at the group’s £2million compound in Crewe.
Following a court hearing, a judge imposed interim slavery and trafficking risk orders on him and four other suspects, three men and a woman.
Police have stressed that their investigation is not into the religious group itself, and said there was ‘no risk to the wider community’.
Westerners are reading pledges of allegiance online to a beanie-wearing Islamic doomsday sect, which this week faced allegations of sex abuse and forced marriage
Would-be members are told on the group’s website to upload their video pledges online to join the sect Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL)
Mr Hashem, a 42-year-old American also known as Abdullah Hashem Aba al-Sadiq, and the other suspects have all now been bailed pending further inquiries.
Around 500 police officers raided the group’s Grade II-listed Webb House base as part of an investigation into allegations of rape, modern slavery and forced marriage.
Mr Hashem, who founded the sect in 2015, claims to be the new Pope and his followers say he can perform ‘miracles’ – including curing the sick and making the moon disappear.
He also asks his followers to offer up their salaries or sell their possessions as contributions. Mainstream Muslim groups have long distanced themselves from the sect.
Residents have voiced concerns over the goings-on inside the compound, revealing how beanie-wearing security guards patrol the imposing electric gates and flash bright torches at outsiders walking by.
One said: ‘You can’t go near the grounds at night without their security guards shining bright lights at you and shouting – it’s very intimidating.’
And on Wednesday, locals gathered in their droves as they witnessed police officers drawn from across the north-west of England launch co-ordinated raids across three properties in Crewe, including Webb House.
Cheshire Police had warrants to enter the group’s headquarters following an investigation into allegations of serious sexual offences, modern slavery and forced marriage.
Ten people – seven men and three women – were hauled into custody in relation to the investigation. All are in their thirties or forties, and are from Mexico, the UK, US, Spain, Egypt, Sweden and Italy.
A further 13 people were arrested on suspicion of public order offences unrelated to the investigation, which has been supported by Europol, the Swedish Police Authority and the Garda.
The raids came after police were alerted in March about a woman, now based in the Republic of Ireland, who had made a complaint of being raped and sexually abused at AROPL’s headquarters.
All of the alleged offences involve one victim, a woman, when she was a member of the group in 2023.
AROPL was previously based in Sweden but relocated to Webb House in 2021.
Leader Hashem, a former filmmaker who describes himself as the ‘saviour of mankind’, uses YouTube and TikTok to spread AROPL and tells followers to ‘obey’ him.
So-called converts are declaring their faith to the controversial AROPL on social media platform TikTok
The videos include people from Poland , Spain , France and America reading out a statement in which they pledge allegiance to Imam Mahdi – a saviour figure from Islamic doomsday prophecy
AROPL describes itself as a religious community – although others see it as a cult – and is led by an American-born former documentary maker, stand-up comedian and self-proclaimed ‘saviour of mankind’ named Abdullah Hashem (pictured)
In one video, multiple men, women and children claim that Hashem has performed miracles ranging from resurrecting family members, making the moon disappear, turning leaves into living animals and curing fatal illnesses including cancer.
In other clips, a primary school-aged girl claims Hashem cured her of stomach pains by simply placing his hand on her, while a daughter alleges that her mother was on the brink of death before she was revived by the leader.
Hashem describes the beanie as his ‘crown’, adding: ‘I take the beanie hat and wear it proudly so. This hat is a symbol of the working man.
‘That’s how it was first invented – to keep the working man warm as he’s working outside and he’s working all day to feed his family with minimum wage. It became a symbol of the poor man, the working class man.’
Police said there are currently 150 members living at Webb House, including families with children who are home-schooled there. It’s believed that gatherings take place in the ‘basilica’ room.
AROPL’s lawyers say children living there are home-schooled by their individual parents with the approval of the local education authority which monitors their progress.
A spokesman added: ‘Those members of the faith who chose to live at the Crewe Centre (a small minority of the overall membership) are usually expected to contribute to the running of the centre, but are encouraged to maintain links with their families.’
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.
Hashem frequently appears in clips, including one TikTok video addressed to Christians where he says: ‘Hear me and obey. I am a messenger sent to you from Jesus Christ… the church is corrupt and no longer upholds the law of God nor does it defend the oppressed.
‘The papacy has been stolen and the rightful heir has been pushed aside.
‘There is no one else but me that you are obliged to obey. May God be a witness that I have proclaimed.’
The camera then pans to a crowd chanting for him, while a caption reading: ‘The new Pope is here.’
Mr Hashem, an Egyptian-American raised in Indiana, first rose to prominence by making documentaries in which he debunked cults in the US.
He and his partner were sued in 2008 after filming an undercover documentary about a UFO religion based in Switzerland.
Police guard the gate to Webb house. A massive operation by Cheshire Police on Wednesday saw more than 500 officers from as far afield as Wales carry out raids on three addresses linked to a bizarre, but rapidly expanding, religious sect
Pictured: The religion’s compound in Crewe. The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light is registered as a non-profit corporation in Las Vegas, where its latest accounts for 2024 show that it made $2million
Officers from Cheshire Police gather outside the AROPL compound in Crewe earlier this week
But seven years later, he founded AROPL, declaring himself the Mahdi, a saviour figure from Islamic doomsday prophecy.
Mr Hashem condemns false Mahdis – believed to be around 30 – and claims he is the only legitimate leader.
In his book, The Goal of the Wise, he says his followers have a ‘duty’ to donate their whole salary – keeping hold of deductions for basic living – and sell their houses to fund his goal to create a ‘divine’ state.
His scriptures include bizarre beliefs such as claims epilepsy can be cured by placing a bird of paradise on a patient’s genitals.
Ex-members told The Guardian how they felt pressured to cut ties with the outside world and were encouraged to sell their homes to fund its activities.
One woman claimed she handed over all the money she was gifted for her wedding, while another says he donated about £33,000.
AROPL regularly post slick videos on TikTok, Facebook, X and Instagram about its activities, while it also features several Q&As and podcasts about the sect. It has more than 100k followers and subscribers TikTok and YouTube alone.
Responding to allegations that the religious group have taken the blood of members and threatens people who leave the faith, Mr Hashem said in one video: ‘Nobody has ever been harmed, coerced, we don’t eat babies, we don’t take blood, none of this stuff is true.’
On one TikTok channel, a large group of men, dressed in black beanies, claim they are Hashem’s ‘soldiers’ who will fight and die for him.
Mr Hashem says he has lived across the world, from the US, Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait, Germany, Sweden and now the UK.
He claims to have formed a ‘religious movement’ with a title to ‘distinguish it from all of the false practices that Muslims are practicing today’.
AROPL has charitable status in the US and the Charity Commission is currently considering its application to have the same in the UK.
The sect was based in Egypt and Germany before moving to Sweden, where 69 members had their residency permits revoked. The members were deported after several businesses linked to the group were found to be providing fake visas.
Lawyers representing AROPL said there were no sham visas and the businesses in Sweden were affected by Covid and had to reduce the hours of their employees which led in some cases to the employees not earning sufficient to qualify for residency in Sweden.
They 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.
The Daily Mail has contacted lawyers representing AROPL for further comment.
