Malaysia National Security Council Issues Statement Against Banners

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) is deeply alarmed by the escalating persecution and systematic suppression of its followers in Malaysia. Recent actions by the Malaysian government, including the issuance of a religious decree by the 124th National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI), have intensified the persecution of our faith, which has long faced hostility in Malaysia.

On January 16, 2025, banners promoting the AROPL were displayed on the AMJ Highway overpass in Peringgit Jaya, Malacca, causing a hostile response from Malaysian authorities. These banners, which peacefully declared “Abdullah Hashem Is Al-Mahdi, Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light,” have been characterized as a provocation and a threat to public harmony. Officials from the Malacca Islamic Religious Department (JAIM) and State Executive Council Member Datuk Rahmad Mariman have condemned the act, and started investigations to punish those involved. This response demonstrates a chilling intolerance toward the peaceful expression of religious beliefs.

The website of the National Security Council states:

The Malacca Islamic Religious Department (JAIM) is now pursuing individuals or parties responsible for hanging a banner promoting deviant teachings on the pedestrian bridge at Lebuh Alor Gajah-Malacca Tengah-Jasin (AMJ) in Peringgit.

Several Malaysian news outlets have reported on the story, expressing support for the government's crackdown on the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light.

The Malaysian government has a long history of targeting the AROPL. In addition to declaring our teachings deviant and heretical, authorities have actively persecuted members of our community. Reports of arrests, harassment, and public vilification have become alarmingly common. Recently, AROPL members have faced backlash not only for promoting their faith but also for their advocacy of marginalized groups, including LGBTQ individuals. A particularly shocking incident involved the arrest of a 60-year-old retired firefighter for speaking with his own son about AROPL teachings.

The MKI decree, issued after the Muzakarah Committee’s review in June 2024, explicitly bans the practice, dissemination, and promotion of AROPL beliefs. It criminalizes the distribution of any materials related to our faith and calls for adherents to repent. Specific objections in the decree target AROPL's theological interpretations, such as the belief in the 12th Imam Muhammad bin al-Hassan al-Askari as the Mahdi, views on prophetic fallibility, and reinterpretations of core religious practices. By branding these beliefs as deviant, the Malaysian government has not only dismissed our faith but has actively sought to erase it.

This decree represents a gross violation of international human rights standards, including the right to freedom of religion and belief enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The prohibition on AROPL’s beliefs and practices, coupled with the call for repentance, constitutes a direct attack on religious minorities.

The labeling of AROPL as a deviant sect encourages public hostility, as evidenced by the government’s characterization of the peaceful banner display as an act of provocation. The removal of the banner and the subsequent investigations have created an environment of fear for AROPL followers, who are now viewed as criminals for merely expressing their beliefs.

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light calls on the Malaysian government to reverse this unjust decree and to cease its persecution of our community. We urge Malaysia to uphold its obligations under international law, protect the rights of religious minorities, and foster an environment where all individuals can freely practice their faith.

We also call upon the international community to stand with the AROPL in condemning these actions and to hold Malaysia accountable for its treatment of religious minorities. The marginalization of our community is a threat not only to us but to the principles of justice, equality, and freedom that must underpin any democratic society.