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Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
The self-declared pope ‘schooling' British children from a former orphanage
He claims to be the successor of Jesus Christ and Mohammed, as well as the 'true and legitimate pope'. He leads a millenarian religious movement, based in a building on a leafy residential road in the Cheshire town of Crewe. And his devoted followers declare they are trying to save the world. For all his certainty, however, Abdullah Hashem is an almost completely unknown figure in modern day Britain. Or he was until this week, when he and his movement became the subject of an in-depth Guardian investigation that shone a light on the little-known Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL). With roots in Shia Islam, AROPL traces its origins back to Iraq in 1999. It wasn't officially founded, however, until 2015, when Hashem emerged to declare himself the Mahdi, a missing Imam referred to in Shia Islam and who adherents believe will one day reappear to rid the world of injustice and rule until Judgment Day. A slim man in his early 40s, with a neat, greying beard, Hashem was born in the US to an Egyptian father and American mother. He is reported to have started out as an amateur film-maker, whose early output included a documentary exposé about a UFO cult. In 2008, he moved to Egypt, where he claims to have risked his life to topple the country's then-leader, Hosni Mubarak, during the Arab Spring. 'I camped out in Tahrir Square, I was attacked by government agents and Egyptian police forces, I dodged bullets and engaged in deadly battles and I was arrested and tortured. In the end, we won,' Hashem writes in his manifesto, published last year, of the 2011 uprising that unseated the Egyptian president. Four years later, Hashem established his sect in post-revolutionary Egypt. It was quickly forced to relocate to Europe amid alleged religious persecution. In April this year, Amnesty International called for the release of AROPL members who the human rights charity said had been 'arbitrarily' arrested in Egypt 'solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief'. AROPL followers have been 'severely persecuted in Muslim-majority countries,' the movement says, in part because their teaching diverges from mainstream Muslim views. Hashem and his sect initially resettled in Germany – where there is an ongoing investigation into the disappearance of one of its members – before moving once again to Sweden. By 2018, the movement was thought to have about 170 members in the country and had registered a farm property in the Sävsjö region for training and education purposes, according to Dr Sarah Harvey, a senior research officer at education charity Inform, who has written a factsheet on AROPL. A string of controversies relating to the sect's financial dealings followed, according to the Guardian report, resulting in dozens of members having their residency permits revoked and several investigations into their activities. 'The AROPL experienced a series of raids and inspections on the property by Swedish police,' Dr Harvey writes in her factsheet. 'No illegal activity was discovered.' By 2021, Hashem and AROPL had relocated once more, this time to north-west England. They continue to operate here from their base in Webb House, a former orphanage and hospital that sits on an almost five-acre plot of land. It seemingly provides the location from which they now flood the internet with promotional footage. The sect's decision to move to the UK was motivated by religious discrimination against them, it says. The choice of Crewe as a base is understood to have come about simply because an appropriate property happened to come on the market there when they were looking for a site. The Grade II-listed building they occupy evidently fitted the bill, having been put up for sale in 2021 with an asking price of around £2 million. Later that year, AROPL Studios LTD, which appears to be behind the movement's various video production activities, was incorporated and listed at the Webb House address. It is not clear how the sect afforded the purchase of the property, but Hashem has said followers have a 'duty' to donate funds to it. Videos posted online by AROPL's various accounts show followers admitting to selling their houses upon joining the religion and ex-devotees have said they ended up sending Hashem all the money they had to support the cause. Documents from the US, where the sect is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit organisation, show AROPL reported assets of $4.5 million in 2023. Hashem inspires great adulation among his acolytes. Followers reportedly believe he can make the moon disappear, and his own claims extend to being able to cure epilepsy by placing birds of paradise on a patient's genitals. Footage seemingly taken from inside Webb House shows him addressing large groups of men during lengthy sermons. He delivers the speeches from a podium, set against a backdrop of apocalyptic artwork, in a room reportedly known as the 'basilica'. The sect's website describes him as 'the long awaited Saviour of Mankind', a claim backed up by supporters who point to miracles they allege he has performed. Some of these are the subject of videos online, such as one YouTube video in which a follower claims he healed her sick mother by placing his hands upon her. Speaking in an interview broadcast on Lebanese television and posted in May on a YouTube channel called The Mahdi Has Appeared, Hashem said many witnesses proclaimed they had seen miracles 'at my hands'. Numerous followers had also had dreams that confirmed his status, he added. 'I'm not here to start a new religion, but I'm here to establish and announce a new covenant,' he said. Within 48 hours of Pope Francis's death in April, he declared the vacancy of the 'papal throne is no accident, but a divine sign' in an address posted on social media. 'The time has come for the rightful heir to assume his position… as the true Pope and bearer of the Covenant,' Hashem said, in apparent reference to himself. He is a capable media performer, articulate and persuasive. A messianic figure for these extremely online times. And his message is amplified by AROPL's slickly produced social media content, which is set to modern hip-hop beats and has received thousands of views. On TikTok, videos show his followers dressed in trademark black beanie hats, proclaiming that they fight against war, darkness, abuse, starvation and injustice, and for freedom, humanity, peace, happiness, the weak, the elderly and children. They call themselves soldiers and say they live for Hashem and fight against anyone who's against him. @ The Mahdi Has Appeared. Where are you? #fyp #brothers #mahdi #abdullahhashem #exposed #soldier #islamtiktok ♬ Conspiracy - Kieran Rogers AROPL, which blends Islamic theology and reportedly also conspiracy theories, estimates its followers in Britain to number in the hundreds. Hashem declares them to be 'the true Muslims, the true Christians, the true Jews'. Worldwide, the movement is thought to have thousands of adherents. They come from different faiths, according to Hashem, including Judaism, Christianity and Buddhism. 'In common with all religious movements, the religion is open to and welcomes any converts to their religion,' a lawyer for AROPL says. About 100 believers now reportedly live at its base in Crewe, including parents who are said to be home-schooling their children at the address. In a book called The Goal of the Wise, Hashem says they have a 'duty' to donate their salary to the movement to help fund the mission to create a 'divine' state. Former members told The Guardian they felt pressured to sever ties with outsiders. Videos posted online show a number of followers solemnly declaring their allegiance in videos shot outside the sect's northern headquarters, explaining they have sold their houses 'not because we were pressured' but 'because we've had enough of this world'. AROPL's lawyer says most of the sect's members have regular jobs and do not live at Webb House. Of those who do, some have regular jobs, while others work or volunteer at the headquarters, the lawyer adds. 'In common with other religious orders, those who choose to live at the AROPL's centre at Crewe are usually expected to contribute to the running of the centre; food accommodation etc, and this may involve selling property or goods,' says the lawyer. 'Those members who live outside the centre are not required to do so. If they wish to donate, that is welcomed. If they do not, they are still encouraged to remain members of the religion.... [And] all donations and expenditure are fully audited by independent auditors.' In common with other religious orders, those who choose to live at the AROPL's centre at Crewe are usually expected to contribute to the running of the centre; food accommodation etc, and this may involve selling property or goods. Other believers who do not live with the community (which is the majority of members) are not usually expected to do so, although of course the religion welcomes voluntary donations. AROPL does not comment on individual donations as these are private matters, but all donations and expenditure are fully audited by independent auditors. Many seem to be generous. A YouTube channel linked to the religion appears to have raised more than $10,000 (more than £7,000) via the 'donate' button 'to support the Madhi'. On its website, AROPL invites visitors to pledge their allegiance to 'the imam of our time' by uploading a testimony video. The movement continues to seek charitable status via the Charity Commission, having had its initial bid rejected in 2021. It maintains it is a 'peaceful and progressive religion', which 'believes in equality between men and women and supports human rights for all'. But Hashem's claims to be the new Mahdi, and the true pope, are naturally controversial. When the presenter in the Lebanese television interview put to Hashem accusations that he suffered from 'delusions and megalomania', he responded that it was a 'great badge of honour' to be accused of 'these things that the previous prophets and messengers were accused of,' before adding that the accusations meant nothing to him. Certainly, his reach appears to be expanding, regardless of the mounting scrutiny. Online, an array of accounts continue to push Hashem and the AROPL's message to followers and potential new recruits across the world. 'We're making sure that people out there who have access to the internet can hear the message from [Hashem],' one devotee declares in a promotional video clip. 'We are having a very strong and steady response from our viewers.' In another, published just last month, a fellow follower promises salvation to those who submit to Hashem's leadership. 'All they need to do in order to make God happy with them and reach salvation is to accept the Mahdi and be guided by him.'
Daily Mail
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Islamic sect operating from an orphanage in Crewe: Beanie-hat wearing founder is self-proclaimed new Pope and 'saviour of mankind' who can 'make the moon disappear'
An Islamic sect whose leader claims to be the new Pope and whose followers say he can perform 'miracles' is operating out of a heavily-guarded former orphanage in Cheshire. Abdullah Hashem Aba al-Sadiq, a former filmmaker who describes himself as the 'saviour of mankind', uses YouTube and TikTok to spread The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) and tells followers to 'obey' him. In one video, multiple men, women and children claim that Hashem has performed miracles ranging from resurrecting family members, making the moon disappear, turning leaves into living animals and curing fatal illnesses including cancer. In other clips, a primary school-aged girl claims Hashem cured her of stomach pains by simply placing his hand on her, while a daughter alleges that her mother was on the brink of death before she was revived by the leader. Hashem asks his followers to offer up their salaries or sell their possessions to contribute to the religious sect which combines Islamic theology with conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and aliens secretly controlling US presidents. Lawyers for AROPL told MailOnline 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. One striking feature of the religion is that they all wear black beanies. Hashem describes the beanie as his 'crown', adding: 'I take the beanie hat and wear it proudly so. This hat is a symbol of the working man. 'That's how it was first invented - to keep the working man warm as he's working outside and he's working all day to feed his family with minimum wage. It became a symbol of the poor man, the working class man.' AROPL was previously based in Sweden but relocated to Crewe in 2021, moving into a Grade II-listed former orphanage, Webb House, The Guardian first reported. Abdullah Hashem (pictured), a former filmmaker who describes himself as the 'saviour of mankind', uses YouTube and TikTok to spread The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) and warns followers to 'obey' his every command The he Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) is operating out of a heavily-guarded former orphanage in Cheshire (pictured) Followers claim that Abdullah Hashem Aba al-Sadiq has cured their relatives just by touching them It's understood around 100 followers live in the £2million Cheshire building, including families with children who are home schooled there. It's believed gatherings take place in the 'basilica' room. AROLP's lawyers say children living there are home-schooled by their individual parents with the approval of the local education authority which monitors their progress. A spokesman added: 'Those members of the faith who chose to live at the Crewe Centre (a small minority of the overall membership) are usually expected to contribute to the running of the centre, but are encouraged to maintain links with their families.' Webb House was originally built as 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 'fulfillment of prophecy as per the narrations and scriptures of the Abrahamic faiths' - a term for the elements shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Young children often feature in videos where they describe Hashem as their 'father' and 'master'. In one video, a 16-year-old boy describes Hashem as his 'dad, imam, God', while in another a girl an 18-year-old girl who joined the religion aged eight says: 'We are the generation that was raised by [Hashem].' Hashem frequently appears in clips, including one TikTok video addressed to Christians where he says: 'Hear me and obey. I am a messenger sent to you from Jesus Christ... the church is corrupt and no longer upholds the law of God nor does it defend the oppressed. 'The papacy has been stolen and the rightful heir has been pushed aside. 'There is no one else but me that you are obliged to obey. May God be a witness that I have proclaimed.' The camera then pans to a crowd chanting for him, while a caption reading: 'The new Pope is here.' Hashem, an Egyptian-American raised in Indiana, first rose to prominence by making documentaries in which he debunked cults in the US. Hashem and his partner were sued in 2008 after filming an undercover documentary about a UFO religion based in Switzerland. But seven years later, he founded AROPL, declaring himself the Mahdi, a saviour figure from Islamic doomsday prophecy. He also claims to be the new pope and the successor to the prophet Muhammad and Jesus. Hashem condemns false Mahdis - believed to be around 30 - and claims he is the only legitimate leader. In his book, The Goal of the Wise, Hashem says his followers have a 'duty' to donate their whole salary - keeping hold of deductions for basic living - and sell their houses to fund his goal to create a 'divine' state. One woman (pictured) claimed that she had witnessed the Mahdi make the moon disappear His scriptures include bizarre beliefs such as claims epilepsy can be cured by placing a bird of paradise on a patient's genitals. Ex-members told The Guardian how they felt pressured to cut ties with the outside world and were encouraged to sell their homes to fund its activities. One woman claimed she handed over all the money she was gifted for her wedding, while another says he donated about £33,000. AROPL regularly post slick videos on TikTok, Facebook, X and Instagram about its activities, while it also features several Q&As and podcasts about the sect. It has more than 100k followers and subscribers TikTok and YouTube alone. Responding to allegations that the religious group have taken the blood of members and threaten people who leave the faith, Hashem said in one video: 'Nobody has ever been harmed, coerced, we don't eat babies, we don't take blood, none of this stuff is true.' On one TikTok channel, a large group of men, dressed in black beanies, claim they are Hashem's 'soldiers' who will fight and die for him. Hashem says he has lived across the world, from the US, Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait, Germany, Sweden and now the UK. He claims to have formed a 'religious movement' with a title to 'distinguish it from all of the false practices that Muslims are practicing today'. In one clip about why followers call him 'father' and 'master', a member says: 'It's something we do from ourselves. We call you father, master because you are our Imam in our time and because you have the holy spirit within you. 'You are the representative of God in this day and age.' AROPL has charitable status in the US and the Charity Commission is currently considering its application to have the same in the UK. The sect was based in Egypt and Germany before moving to Sweden, where 69 members had their residency permits revoked. The members were deported after several businesses linked to the group were found to be providing fake visas. Lawyers representing AROPL said there were no sham visas and the businesses in Sweden were affected by Covid and had to reduce the hours of their employees which led in some cases to the employees not earning sufficient to qualify for residency in Sweden. An investigation into the disappearance of a German member, Lisa Wiese, who vanished while visiting India in 2019, is still ongoing. She had travelled there with another AROPL member and has never been seen again. The group also expressed their concern over the recent arrest of one of its members, Mohd Tarmizi bin Mond Ariffin, 39, who has been a believer since April 2024.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
‘Dad, imam, God': children living with self-declared pope in former UK orphanage
A religious sect, whose leader claims to be the new pope and whose followers say he can make the moon disappear, is operating out of a former orphanage in Crewe, Cheshire, where at least a dozen children are being home schooled. The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) was founded by Abdullah Hashem, a former documentary maker turned self-proclaimed 'saviour of mankind' who uses YouTube and TikTok to proselytise to potential recruits. One such video appears to feature a primary school-aged girl claiming she was cured of stomach pains after Hashem placed his hand on her. Hashem urges followers to sell their possessions and donate their salaries to his cause. The religious group blends Islamic theology with conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and aliens secretly controlling US presidents. AROPL says it is a peaceful, open and transparent religious movement derived from Shia Islam that has faced persecution around the world owing to its belief in equality and human rights. If you have something to share about the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL), or other issues raised in this story, you can contact Maeve using one of the following methods. Secure Messaging in the Guardian app The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said. If you don't already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select 'Secure Messaging'. To send a message to Maeve please choose the 'UK Investigations' team. Signal Messenger You can message Maeve using the Signal Messenger app at maevemcclenaghan.45 Email (not secure) If you don't need a high level of security or confidentiality you can email SecureDrop and other secure methods If you can safely use the tor network without being observed or monitored you can send messages and documents to the Guardian via our SecureDrop platform. Finally, our guide at lists several ways to contact us securely, and discusses the pros and cons of each. It relocated to the Cheshire town, in the north-west of England, in 2021, moving into a former orphanage, Webb House, a Grade II-listed building worth £2m. The group was previously based in Sweden. The members were in effect barred from the country after a slew of businesses linked to the organisation were found to be providing sham visas. About 100 followers are said to live at the Crewe headquarters, including families with children who are home schooled on site. During a recent visit on a weekday afternoon, a reporter saw more than a dozen young children playing in a yard. Elsewhere, adults in black beanie hats sat eating lunch or walking large guard dogs. (Hashem and his followers routinely wear black beanies, even in hot weather.) The Guardian has reviewed court judgments, company filings, religious scriptures and videos and hundreds of pages of official documents about the group and its members, and interviewed several former members. Some, including former residents of the headquarters at Crewe, expressed concern about the wellbeing and education of the children there. Cheshire East council's social services twice made inquiries relating to the group or the children. There is no evidence action was deemed necessary. 'Duty' to donate salary Hashem, an Egyptian-American raised in Indiana, first made a name for himself making films in which he infiltrated and debunked cults in the US. In 2008, he and his partner were sued after filming an undercover documentary about a Switzerland-based UFO religion. 'We're really building up our reputation for debunking the false prophet, UFO phenomenon,' Hashem told reporters while promoting his documentary. Seven years later, he founded AROPL, declaring himself the Mahdi, a saviour figure from Islamic doomsday prophecy. He also claims to be the rightful pope, as well as the successor to the prophet Muhammad and Jesus. Hashem's scriptures are contained in his book, The Goal of the Wise. It declares his followers have a 'duty' to donate their entire salary – keeping only deductions for basic living – and sell their houses or land to fund his mission to create a 'divine' state. Former members said they felt pressured to sever ties with people outside the group, and were encouraged to sell their properties to fund its activities. One woman said she handed over all the money she had received for her wedding; another follower said he donated about £33,000. Hashem's scripture promotes a number of unusual beliefs, such as his claim that epilepsy can be cured by placing a bird of paradise on a patient's genitals. A lawyer for AROPL and Hashem said no practices involving birds of paradise were conducted. They said that 'in common with other religious orders' AROPL expected permanent residents to sell assets to help sustain themselves and the movement, and denied that members were encouraged to ostracise relatives or tightly controlled. The lawyer said members could join and leave AROPL as they wished. The group has faced harassment and persecution, particularly in Algeria, Malaysia and Turkey, where many of its claims, such as the Qur'an having been corrupted or tolerance for LGBT people, are considered heresies. Amnesty International and other human rights groups have criticised alleged mistreatment of AROPL members, which UN experts have called 'a persecuted religious minority'. Slick media operation For those in Crewe, regular gatherings take place in the 'basilica', a room with a raised wooden dais and walls covered with illustrations of the supporters Hashem has declared are reincarnations of religious figures. The group operates a slick-media operation, and regularly produces and circulates videos about its activities. On one TikTok channel a large group of men, many wearing black beanies, declare they are 'soldiers' for Hashem and will fight and die for him. One is holding a guard dog on a chain. Some videos feature children. In one, a boy who says he is 16, describes Hashem as his 'dad, imam, God'. In another video, which shows the apparently primary school-aged girl claiming Hashem miraculously cured her stomach pains, the child's mother says she considered conventional medical advice before turning to her religious leader. 'It reached a point that I was thinking, OK, now I feel I have to take her to the doctor,' she said. However, after seeing a video showing Hashem supposedly curing a man of stomach pains with his hands, she instead asked the religious leader to give her daughter the same treatment. The video then shows the girl saying that Hashem placed his hand on her stomach: 'He told me to close my eyes, and then he said some words, I don't know which words,' she said. She added that Hashem then stepped away 'and it actually worked … it feels good for my stomach and it's really healed'. AROPL's lawyer, asked about the video, said Hashem and the group fully supported the NHS as the solution to all medical issues in the UK. Two relatives of a teenager living at the Crewe premises told the Guardian he had previously told them that he was unhappy there and wanted to leave. They also expressed concerns about his lack of formal education. It is legal in England to home school, although any group of five or more children must be registered with the Department for Education. AROPL's lawyer said the organisation was not involved in home schooling, which was led by parents. The group had considered setting up a formal school, the lawyer said, but had shelved the idea and 'dismantled the classrooms'. Hashem has warned his followers about the corrupting influence of mainstream education on children, and encouraged them to 'take advantage of laws' in countries that enable home schooling. He recently told followers: 'You can't fully control what's going on with your child so long as they are mingling on the outside with people that you don't know.' AROPL has applied for charitable status in the UK, with the Charity Commission currently considering the application. It has charitable status in the US, and has several hundred supporters around the world, who are asked to pledge allegiance to the group via social media. Deportations from Sweden The group was previously based in Egypt and Germany, before moving to Sweden, where 69 members had their residency permits revoked. The Swedish Migration Agency concluded that AROPL members had created businesses that were 'rogue employers', intended primarily to obtain residency permits. The companies' supposed staff received very low wages, which the agency suspected were then immediately paid into other AROPL businesses, leaving the workers without real payment. In a series of rulings in 2022 an immigration court upheld the agency's findings and ordered the deportation of dozens of the group's members, although most had moved to the UK by the time the judgments were handed down. In a statement, Hashem claimed followers served with deportation notices were victims of racist and religious persecution, and complained about 'the spewing of racism for the sake of rallying a Nazi base of supporters to stand behind the fascist Swedish government'. In Germany, where AROPL had been based before moving to Sweden, an investigation is continuing into the disappearance of a German member of the group. Lisa Wiese disappeared while visiting India in 2019. She had travelled there with another member of AROPL, vanishing shortly after arrival, and has not been seen since. A lawyer for AROPL said the group did not have any information about the disappearance of Wiese, a mother of two. This article was amended on 2 July 2025. An earlier version incorrectly said those educating groups of more than five children must be registered with Ofsted; however, this applies to five or more children, and the registration should be with the Department for Education.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- The Guardian
‘Dad, imam, God': children living with self-declared pope in former UK orphanage
A religious sect, whose leader claims to be the new pope and whose followers say he can make the moon disappear, is operating out of a former orphanage in Crewe, Cheshire, where at least a dozen children are being home schooled. The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) was founded by Abdullah Hashem, a former documentary maker turned self-proclaimed 'saviour of mankind' who uses YouTube and TikTok to proselytise to potential recruits. One such video appears to feature a primary school-aged girl claiming she was cured of stomach pains after Hashem placed his hand on her. Hashem urges followers to sell their possessions and donate their salaries to his cause. The religious group blends Islamic theology with conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and aliens secretly controlling US presidents. AROPL says it is a peaceful, open and transparent religious movement derived from Shia Islam that has faced persecution around the world owing to its belief in equality and human rights. If you have something to share about the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL), or other issues raised in this story, you can contact Maeve using one of the following methods. Secure Messaging in the Guardian app The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said. If you don't already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select 'Secure Messaging'. To send a message to Maeve please choose the 'UK Investigations' team. Signal Messenger You can message Maeve using the Signal Messenger app at maevemcclenaghan.45 Email (not secure) If you don't need a high level of security or confidentiality you can email SecureDrop and other secure methods If you can safely use the tor network without being observed or monitored you can send messages and documents to the Guardian via our SecureDrop platform. Finally, our guide at lists several ways to contact us securely, and discusses the pros and cons of each. It relocated to the Cheshire town, in the north-west of England, in 2021, moving into a former orphanage, Webb House, a Grade II-listed building worth £2m. The group was previously based in Sweden. The members were in effect barred from the country after a slew of businesses linked to the organisation were found to be providing sham visas. About 100 followers are said to live at the Crewe headquarters, including families with children who are home schooled on site. During a recent visit on a weekday afternoon, a reporter saw more than a dozen young children playing in a yard. Elsewhere, adults in black beanie hats sat eating lunch or walking large guard dogs. (Hashem and his followers routinely wear black beanies, even in hot weather.) The Guardian has reviewed court judgments, company filings, religious scriptures and videos and hundreds of pages of official documents about the group and its members, and interviewed several former members. Some, including former residents of the headquarters at Crewe, expressed concern about the wellbeing and education of the children there. Cheshire East council's social services twice made inquiries relating to the group or the children. There is no evidence action was deemed necessary. 'Duty' to donate salary Hashem, an Egyptian-American raised in Indiana, first made a name for himself making films in which he infiltrated and debunked cults in the US. In 2008, he and his partner were sued after filming an undercover documentary about a Switzerland-based UFO religion. 'We're really building up our reputation for debunking the false prophet, UFO phenomenon,' Hashem told reporters while promoting his documentary. Seven years later, he founded AROPL, declaring himself the Mahdi, a saviour figure from Islamic doomsday prophecy. He also claims to be the rightful pope, as well as the successor to the prophet Muhammad and Jesus. Hashem's scriptures are contained in his book, The Goal of the Wise. It declares his followers have a 'duty' to donate their entire salary – keeping only deductions for basic living – and sell their houses or land to fund his mission to create a 'divine' state. Former members said they felt pressured to sever ties with people outside the group, and were encouraged to sell their properties to fund its activities. One woman said she handed over all the money she had received for her wedding; another follower said he donated about £33,000. Hashem's scripture promotes a number of unusual beliefs, such as his claim that epilepsy can be cured by placing a bird of paradise on a patient's genitals. A lawyer for AROPL and Hashem said no practices involving birds of paradise were conducted. They said that 'in common with other religious orders' AROPL expected permanent residents to sell assets to help sustain themselves and the movement, and denied that members were encouraged to ostracise relatives or tightly controlled. The lawyer said members could join and leave AROPL as they wished. The group has faced harassment and persecution, particularly in Algeria, Malaysia and Turkey, where many of its claims, such as the Qur'an having been corrupted or tolerance for LGBT people, are considered heresies. Amnesty International and other human rights groups have criticised alleged mistreatment of AROPL members, which UN experts have called 'a persecuted religious minority'. Slick media operation For those in Crewe, regular gatherings take place in the 'basilica', a room with a raised wooden dais and walls covered with illustrations of the supporters Hashem has declared are reincarnations of religious figures. The group operates a slick-media operation, and regularly produces and circulates videos about its activities. On one TikTok channel a large group of men, many wearing black beanies, declare they are 'soldiers' for Hashem and will fight and die for him. One is holding a guard dog on a chain. Some videos feature children. In one, a boy who says he is 16, describes Hashem as his 'dad, imam, God'. In another video, which shows the apparently primary school-aged girl claiming Hashem miraculously cured her stomach pains, the child's mother says she considered conventional medical advice before turning to her religious leader. 'It reached a point that I was thinking, OK, now I feel I have to take her to the doctor,' she said. However, after seeing a video showing Hashem supposedly curing a man of stomach pains with his hands, she instead asked the religious leader to give her daughter the same treatment. The video then shows the girl saying that Hashem placed his hand on her stomach: 'He told me to close my eyes, and then he said some words, I don't know which words,' she said. She added that Hashem then stepped away 'and it actually worked … it feels good for my stomach and it's really healed'. AROPL's lawyer, asked about the video, said Hashem and the group fully supported the NHS as the solution to all medical issues in the UK. Two relatives of a teenager living at the Crewe premises told the Guardian he had previously told them that he was unhappy there and wanted to leave. They also expressed concerns about his lack of formal education. It is legal in England to home school, although any group of more than five children must be registered with Ofsted, the UK government's education inspectorate. AROPL's lawyer said the organisation was not involved in home schooling, which was led by parents. The group had considered setting up a formal school, the lawyer said, but had shelved the idea and 'dismantled the classrooms'. Hashem has warned his followers about the corrupting influence of mainstream education on children, and encouraged them to 'take advantage of laws' in countries that enable home schooling. He recently told followers: 'You can't fully control what's going on with your child so long as they are mingling on the outside with people that you don't know.' AROPL has applied for charitable status in the UK, with the Charity Commission currently considering the application. It has charitable status in the US, and has several hundred supporters around the world, who are asked to pledge allegiance to the group via social media. Deportations from Sweden The group was previously based in Egypt and Germany, before moving to Sweden, where 69 members had their residency permits revoked. The Swedish Migration Agency concluded that AROPL members had created businesses that were 'rogue employers', intended primarily to obtain residency permits. The companies' supposed staff received very low wages, which the agency suspected were then immediately paid into other AROPL businesses, leaving the workers without real payment. In a series of rulings in 2022 an immigration court upheld the agency's findings and ordered the deportation of dozens of the group's members, although most had moved to the UK by the time the judgments were handed down. In a statement, Hashem claimed followers served with deportation notices were victims of racist and religious persecution, and complained about 'the spewing of racism for the sake of rallying a Nazi base of supporters to stand behind the fascist Swedish government'. In Germany, where AROPL had been based before moving to Sweden, an investigation is continuing into the disappearance of a German member of the group. Lisa Wiese disappeared while visiting India in 2019. She had travelled there with another member of AROPL, vanishing shortly after arrival, and has not been seen since. A lawyer for AROPL said the group did not have any information about the disappearance of Wiese, a mother of two.
