A woman was sexually assaulted after being 'lured' into joining a religious group operating out of a heavily guarded former orphanage in Cheshire, a court heard today.
Police Raid and Arrests
The leader of the controversial Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL), Abdullah Hashem, is among ten suspects arrested in a police raid on Wednesday. After hearing details of the allegations, a judge imposed interim slavery and trafficking risk orders on him and four other suspects, three men and a woman.
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 base in Crewe as part of an investigation into allegations of rape, modern slavery, and forced marriage.
Allegations of Abuse
The alleged victim moved to the UK from her home country under 'false pretences of a better life' and joined AROPL, Chester magistrates court heard. But after selling her home and giving up control of her finances and travel documentation, she was subjected to sexual and physical abuse, a judge was told.
However, after being taken to Sweden by the group, she managed to raise the alarm while being brought back via the Republic of Ireland, it was alleged, and police began investigating.
Details of the Offences
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claims to have been contacted by the group online, Chester magistrates court heard. Members allegedly visited her in her home country, and in 2023 she agreed to sell her property and move to the UK. But after being brought to Webb House, she was subjected to offences including forced marriage, rape, and assault by penetration, prosecutor Catherine Elvin said.
One of the suspects allegedly forced her to marry another member of the group. He is also said to have sexually assaulted her on one occasion and overseen other sexual abuse. Another is said to have arranged her travel to the UK, while a third allegedly persuaded her to sell her possessions and join the group. A fourth suspect is said to have pinned the woman down while she was sexually assaulted, Ms Elvin said. The final suspect is accused of punching and kicking the woman over the use of one of her bank cards when she was in Sweden.
Interim Orders Imposed
In addition to Mr Hashem, those made subject to the orders are: Ali Muhammad, 35, British; Veronica Carla Esponda, 44, Italian; Eyad Elkhouly, 44, German; and Kevin Omar Rodriguez-Ponce, 30, Mexican. They were among seven men and three women arrested when police raided Webb House, which the hearing was told is protected by high fences, bodyguards, and a robotic dog.
There was a heavy police presence outside court during today's hearing, which none of the suspects attended. District Judge Owen Jones granted interim orders for six months. The five individuals are required to hand over passports or other travel documents such as national identity cards. They are also banned from contacting the complainant, having any unsupervised contact with any child under 18, or having control of any bank card belonging to another person. The civil orders also ban the five individuals from entering Crewe. In addition, they must not transport anyone other than their own children or facilitate people being housed under their 'control or influence'.
Police Statement
After the hearing, Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley of Cheshire Police said: 'I welcome the granting of these orders, and I hope that they provide some reassurance to the local community. Our priority is always the safety of the public, and while our investigation continues, these orders will provide additional restrictions to ensure there is no risk to the public and other members of the group.
'Over the weekend we will continue to have a large police presence at the site while we continue with our searches and to provide reassurance, and I would urge anyone with any concerns to speak to an officer. I would also like to reiterate that this is not an investigation into the religion, our investigation solely focuses on the serious allegations which have been reported to us. I'd also remind residents that this remains a live investigation which will take some time, and I would ask that people do not speculate while the case remains ongoing.'
Background on AROPL
AROPL was previously based in Sweden but relocated to Crewe in 2021. It is understood that prior to the police raid, around 150 followers lived in the £2 million Cheshire building, including families with children who are home-schooled there. Webb House was originally built as an 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. It describes itself as the 'fulfilment of prophecy as per the narrations and scriptures of the Abrahamic faiths', a term for the elements shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The group has no connection with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, often known as Ahmadis.
Lawyers for AROPL 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. They say children living there are home-schooled by their individual parents with the approval of the local education authority, which monitors their progress. Following the raid, they said AROPL was co-operating with the investigation.
