Cheshire Police have raided the premises of a non-Muslim cult exposed by 5Pillars and have made several arrests related to serious sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery.
Officers in Crewe say they are investigating reports of several serious offences alleged to have involved members of a religious group called the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light.
In March 2026, Cheshire Police were made aware of allegations of serious sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery, reported to have taken place in 2023.
All of the offences involved one victim, a woman, who was a member of the group at the time the offences occurred.
Following a detailed investigation into the allegations, officers have today enforced three warrants in Crewe leading to the arrest of several people.
More than 500 officers from Cheshire Police and neighbouring forces were involved in the operation, which took place at around 8.50am today.
Following the arrests, detectives are now conducting a search of the premises and are working closely with the local authority to support the residents from the property and appropriate safeguarding measures are in place.
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Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley, of Cheshire Constabulary, said: “Today’s operation is the outcome of a detailed and robust investigation into reports of serious sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery involving members of a religious group called Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Crewe.
“While those arrested are members of the group, I want to make clear that this is not an investigation into the religion, this is an investigation into the serious allegations which have been reported to us.
“We treat all reports of sexual assault seriously and are committed to doing all we can to achieve justice.
“Following the arrests we are working closely with our partners to provide the appropriate advice and safeguarding to other members of the group.
“I would like to reassure residents that there is no risk to the wider community, and patrols have been stepped up to provide reassurance to local residents. I would urge anyone with any concerns to speak to an officer.”
Non-Muslim cult
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, which has been falsely branded an “Islamic cult” online, has caused a stir since arriving in the English town of Crewe, Cheshire, in 2021.
They have turned a large local property called Webb House, a former orphanage worth around £2million, into the group’s international headquarters where they attempt to recruit followers, produce online content on TikTok and YouTube, fundraise, and stage group marches on the land surrounding the main building.
5Pillars investigated the group and discovered that although the they have taken inspiration from Shia Islam, Christianity and a non-Muslim group of a similar name, the Ahmadiyya (also known as Qadiyanis), the AROPL has been condemned by Muslims and is considered a “blasphemous group” in the Arab world whose leader considers himself the Mahdi.
The leader of the AROPL is an American-Egyptian named Abdullah Hashem Aba Sadiq.
Hashem was raised in a mixed religious household with his father being a Sunni Muslim Egyptian and his mother a Christian American, however, Hashem has since clarified in a video titled: “Exposing Sunni Islam & the worst enemies of Allah SWT” that although he grew up learning about Sunni Islam he never considered himself a Sunni Muslim.
According to the Guardian newspaper, Hashem claims to be the new pope, a successor to Prophets Muhammad and Jesus PBUT, while on his YouTube channel he has also appointed himself the Mehdi – a prophesied, divinely-guided messianic figure in Islam, sent to head the creation of a brand new religious movement which will be the successor to the major Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
However, the group has reportedly been accused of blasphemy in the Arab world after Hashem spent several years in Egypt attempting to build a following.
The AROPL has alleged that its members have faced “persecution” in the Muslim world over the group’s activities and beliefs.
Read 5Pillars’ expose here.
