Outrage as AROPL Member Sentenced to 6 Months in Malaysian Prison

UPDATE October 29, 2024 - Despite ongoing persecution and stringent internet censorship imposed by the Malaysian government, members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace & Light continue to see unprecedented growth in both online viewership and pledges of allegiance. In a remarkable show of resilience, the Malaysian Outreach team attracted an impressive 108,000 viewers during a live stream held yesterday, all within just two hours.

This surge in engagement underscores the dedication of the community and their supporters, signaling a growing interest despite governmental attempts to stifle their message.

Adding to the community’s momentum, the NGO Human Rights Without Frontiers has issued a strong statement condemning the actions of the Malaysian government and expressing support for Malaysians currently detained for their association with the AROPL. The organization’s statement stands as a significant call for justice and human rights, bringing increased international attention to the situation and amplifying calls for the detainees' release.

UPDATE October 24, 2024, 2pm - In a recent wave of media coverage, Malaysian outlets have published numerous articles attacking the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, centering on the arrest of Zolekafeli Bin Abd Ghani. The media has portrayed the group as misguided, issuing warnings about its teachings and discouraging public engagement.

The Malaysian media landscape has become increasingly repressive—especially when it comes to religious affairs. The alignment with state-sponsored narratives has led to heightened censorship of non-mainstream religious movements.

In a related development, reports have surfaced that the Divine Just State Magazine, a publication associated with the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, has been blocked in Malaysia.

UPDATE October 24, 2024, 10am - The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light is outraged by the sentencing of one of its followers, who was handed a six-month prison term and fined RM4,500 by the Sharia High Court in Negeri Sembilan today. The 60 year old retired fire fighter, Zolekafeli Bin Abd Ghani, pleaded guilty to three charges of allegedly teaching "false doctrines" during a religious gathering on October 12.

He was charged for spreading the teachings of The Goal of the Wise, proclaiming Abdullah Hashem to be the Second Mahdi and stating that the Quran had been corrupted.

Despite his pleas for leniency due to his age, health conditions, and family responsibilities, the court imposed consecutive sentences, reflecting the seriousness of the accusations, which prosecutors argued could lead to "apostasy and disbelief".

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light strongly condemns this verdict, viewing it as an affront to religious freedom and an ongoing pattern of persecution. The community remains committed to defending the rights of its followers and calls for greater protection of their beliefs.

UPDATE October 23, 2024, 6pm — In a further development following the raid on a family home in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, media reports have now confirmed that the wife, who was initially excluded from the arrests, has also been detained. This brings the total number of family members in custody to three, including the husband and their daughter.

Malaysian enforcement officer holds up a mobile phone with access to AROPL social media channels

According to media sources, authorities conducted a search of the family’s mobile devices and discovered software indicating their active engagement with the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light online. Authorities revealed that the operation was the result of a five-month investigation into the family’s involvement with the religion.

October 23, 2024, 4pm — In a developing story from Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, officers from the Department of Islamic Religious Affairs, along with local police, conducted a search of a family home following allegations of involvement with the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. The individuals involved are a husband, wife, and their daughter, who are now in the custody of the Department of Islamic Religious Affairs.

The incident followed rising tensions within the family after the husband and wife joined the Ahmadi faith in March and May 2024, respectively. Despite their efforts to share their beliefs with close relatives, strong opposition led to a formal complaint submitted to the Negeri Sembilan Religious Department.

The arrest operation, which took place on October 22, 2024, involved a raid on the family’s home in Seremban. The wife, who was at work during the raid, was informed via phone at 2:30 p.m. local time that her husband and daughter had been taken into custody. A copy of the arrest warrant obtained indicates the operation was conducted under Section 52 of the Syariah Criminal Enactment (Negeri Sembilan) 1992, on the grounds of "wrong acts and deviant teachings."

During the raid, officers reportedly seized several documents, including a printout of "The Mahdi Manifesto" and other related materials. Hasnah, however, was not detained as her name was not mentioned in the complaint. "I was surprised," Hasnah stated in a phone conversation on the 23rd of October at 8am (GMT), “but I was told it was because I wasn’t listed in the report."

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light has been heavily persecuted in Malaysia, where it is declared deviant by authorities. This latest incident has sparked outrage within the AROPL community, who view the actions of the religious authorities as a violation of their fundamental right to freedom of belief.

The persecution of AROPL has been repeatedly denounced by international NGOs such as

Amnesty International and by the United Nations. On July 4, 2023, three United Nations

Special Rapporteurs, together with other United Nations officials, published a joint statement

on the persecution of members of the faith. The United States department of state in its 2023

Malaysia country report on religious freedom highlighted the persecution of AROPL

members in Malaysia, speaking about the arrests of AROPL members and local Islamic

Department investigation of AROPL members for unspecified sharia offenses

The Malaysian news channel Harian Metro broadcasted a segment showing arresting officers holding up the warrants for the detention of the members. The video on Youtube is titled "Three family members believed to be followers of The Ahmadi teachings detained.".

Note: The identities of the two females involved have been withheld for their protection.