“Father, Imam, God.” The leader of a religious sect that claims to be the new Pope urges his followers to sell his goods to create a “divine” state

A religious sect founded by a former documentary producer who self-proclaimed “Savior of mankind” works in a former orphanage in Crew, UK. In this place, about 100 followers live, including families with children who are school -school, writes The Guardian.

The Ahmadi religion of peace and light (AROPL) was founded by Abdullah Hashem, an American of Egyptian origin in Indiana, who became known after making films in which the US cults were infiltrated.

In 2008, he and his partner were sued after filming an undercover documentary about an UFO religion based in Switzerland. “We truly build our reputation for the unmasking of the false prophet, the UFO phenomenon,” Hashem told reporters while promoting his documentary.

Seven years later, he founded Aropl, declaring himself Mahdi, a saving figure in the Islamic apocalyptic prophecy. He also claims to be the legitimate Pope, as well as the successor of the Prophet Muhammad and Jesus.

Hashem urges the followers to sell their goods and donate their salaries for its cause. The religious group combines Islamic theology with conspiracy theories about Illuminati and aliens who secretly control the US presidents. AROPL states that it is a peaceful, open and transparent religious movement, derived from Shiite Islam.

According to The Guardian, about 100 followers, including families with children, live in Webb House, a former orphanage in the northwest of England, worth 2 million pounds, which became in 2021 the new headquarters of the cult. Previously, the group was based in Sweden, but the members were forbidden to enter the country after discovering that a number of companies related to the organization provided fictitious visas.

During a recent visit to the Crew headquarters, a reporter of the British newspaper saw a group of young children playing in a yard. Otherwise, adults with black hats were sitting at the table or walking large guarding dogs (Hashem and his followers usually carry black hats).

The Guardian analyzed court decisions, files of companies, religious scripts and videos and hundreds of pages of official documents about the group and its members and interviewed several former members.

Some, including former residents of the Crew headquarters, have expressed concern about the well-being and education of the children there. The social services of the Cheshire Council have done twice investigations regarding the group or children. There is no evidence that an action would have been required.

The “obligation” to donate the salary

Former members said they felt pressed to break the ties with people outside the group and were encouraged to sell their properties to finance its activities. A woman said she handed over all the money she had received for her wedding; Another follower said he donated about 33,000 pounds.

AROPL expected permanent residents to sell goods to contribute to their support and movement and denied that members would have been encouraged to strictly control relatives or control. The lawyer said that the members could join and leave Aropl as they wanted.

The group faced harassment and persecution, especially in Algeria, Malaysia and Turkey, where many of its statements, such as the corruption of the Koran or tolerance towards LGBT people, are considered heresies. Amnesty International and other human rights groups have criticized the alleged maltraction of AROPL members, whom UN experts called “a persecuted religious minority.”

Recruitment through social networks

For those in Crew, regular meetings take place in “Basilica”, a room with a high wood and walls covered with illustrations of the supporters that Hashem said are reincarnations of religious figures.

The group carries out a smart media operation and produces and regularly distributes videos about its activities. On a Tiktok channel, a large group of men, many of them wearing black hats, say they are “soldiers” for Hashem and will fight and die for him.

Some videos show children. In one of them, a boy who says he is 16 years old describes Hashem as “his Father, Imam, God.” In another video, which shows a seemingly primary school age that Hashem miraculously cured her stomach pain.

Asked about video recording, AROPL lawyer said that Hashem and the group fully support NHS (British Health) as a solution to all medical problems in the United Kingdom.

Regarding the education that children receive at the headquarters in Crew, the AROPL lawyer says that the organization is not involved in home education, which is led by parents. In England, home schooling is legal, although any group of more than five children must be registered at Offsted, the Inspectorate for Education of the British Government.

Hashem warned his followers about the corrupt influence of traditional education on children and encouraged to “take advantage of the laws” in countries that allow home education. He recently told the followers: “You cannot fully control what happens to your child as long as they mix out with people you do not know.”

AROPL has requested the status of charitable organization in the United Kingdom, and the charity commission is currently analyzing the request. AROPL has a charitable organization status in the US and has several hundred supporters worldwide, who are asked to swear to the group through social networks.