Lisa Wiese, a 30-year-old German national and member of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL), vanished in India in 2019. Seven years later, her ex-husband AbdelRahman Hashem hopes a UK police raid on AROPL's headquarters might yield answers, despite the raid's focus on unrelated allegations of modern slavery, trafficking, and rape.
Cheshire Police have completed searches at the headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Crewe after raiding three properties on Wednesday. Ten people (seven men, three women) were arrested over allegations of serious sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery involving one female victim, alleged to have occurred in 2023. All arrested individuals, of various nationalities including British, Mexican, Italian, American, Spanish, German, Swedish and Egyptian, have been released on conditional bail. Twenty-five others were charged with public order offences unrelated to the investigation. Police stressed the investigation focuses on the allegations, not religion.
Over 500 officers stormed an "Islamic sect" in Crewe, arresting 10 members, including their spiritual leader, for serious crimes like rape, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The raid targeted the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light headquarters. Police are investigating allegations of forced marriage and slavery reported by a former member.
Nine people have been arrested following a major police operation targeting the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (Arpol) in Crewe, Cheshire. More than 500 officers raided three addresses over allegations of serious sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery. The group, founded by followers of Shia Islam at the start of the century, has 150 members. Those arrested include individuals of American, Mexican, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Egyptian and British nationalities. Police stress they are investigating the allegations, not the religion itself.
Nine people have been arrested in Crewe, Cheshire, over allegations including modern slavery, forced marriage and serious sexual offences at the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (Arpol) religious group. The arrests follow reports of offences allegedly taking place in 2023 relating to one woman. Those arrested include individuals of American, Mexican, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Egyptian and British nationalities. Police stress the investigation is into the alleged crimes, not the religion itself.
Six people have been arrested in Cheshire over allegations including modern slavery, forced marriage and serious sexual offences at the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (ARPOL). More than 500 officers raided three addresses in Crewe. Police were alerted last month to allegations relating to 2023 involving one woman who was a member. The group has 150 members and was founded at the start of the century by followers of Shia Islam.
Six people have been arrested in Cheshire over allegations including modern slavery, serious sexual offences and forced marriage at the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (ARPOL). More than 500 officers raided three addresses in Crewe. The group, founded by followers of Shia Islam at the start of the century, has 150 members. The alleged offences relate to one woman and reportedly took place in 2023. Those arrested include American, Mexican, Italian, Spanish and British nationals.
Cheshire Police have arrested several members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Crewe following raids involving over 500 officers at three addresses. The investigation concerns allegations of serious sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery reported to have taken place in 2023, involving one woman who was a member at the time. Police stressed this is not an investigation into the religion itself but into the specific allegations, and stated there is no risk to the wider community.
Cheshire Police have arrested several individuals from the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Crewe following a major operation involving over 500 officers. The arrests follow allegations of serious sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery allegedly occurring in 2023. Police emphasise this is an investigation into the specific allegations, not the religion itself, and have assured the public there is no risk to the wider community.
Police have raided the headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Crewe, Cheshire, following an investigation into allegations of serious sexual offences, modern slavery and forced marriage. About 500 officers were deployed on Wednesday morning, making multiple arrests after a woman in the Republic of Ireland reported being raped and sexually abused at the group's headquarters in 2023. The suspects are men of American, Mexican, British, German and Spanish nationality. The sect, which blends Islamic tenets with conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and aliens, moved to the UK from Sweden in 2021. Around 150 people and 56 children live at the grade II-listed property.
