Mystery of the Islamic sect operating in a Cheshire orphanage: Probe into rape, modern slavery and forced marriage at secretive group run by 'new Pope' where 'members cut ties with the outside world'

By ARTHUR PARASHAR, SENIOR REPORTER Published: 14:40, 30 April 2026 | Updated: 14:45, 30 April 2026 It began as a quiet spring morning in Cheshire. But by 9am, more than 500 officers were launching a dramatic raid on the heavily-guarded headquarters of a controversial Islamic sect. The location: Webb House, a Grade II-listed building which once served as an orphanage for the children of railway workers who had lost their parents in work-related accidents. Today, it serves an entirely different purpose. Since 2021, it has been the headquarters of the secretive Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL). The Shia religious sect, whose followers all wear black beanie hats, combines Islamic theology with conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and aliens secretly controlling US presidents.    Leader Abdullah Hashem Aba al-Sadiq, who founded the sect in 2015, claims to be the new Pope and his followers say he can perform 'miracles' - including curing the sick and making the moon disappear. He also asks his followers to offer up their salaries or sell their possessions to contribute to the sect. Mainstream Muslim groups have long distanced themselves from the sect. Residents have voiced concerns over the goings-on inside the £2million compound, revealing how beanie-wearing security guards patrol the imposing electric gates and flash bright torches at outsiders walking by.  One said: 'You can't go near the grounds at night without their security guards shining bright lights at you and shouting – it's very intimidating.'  And on Wednesday, locals gathered in their droves as they witnessed 500 police officers drawn from across the north-west of England launch co-ordinated raids across three properties in Crewe, including Webb House.  Cheshire Police had warrants to enter the group's headquarters following an investigation into allegations of serious sexual offences, modern slavery and forced marriage. Pictured is Webb House, the Cheshire headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL). Dozens of police cars can be seen swooping on the compound The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) is operating out of a heavily guarded former orphanage in Cheshire (pictured) Van-loads of police officers arriving at the group's former orphanage headquarters in Crewe on Wednesday morning to investigate allegations of rape, modern slavery and forced marriage Nine people - six men and three women -  were hauled into custody in relation to the investigation. All are in their thirties or forties, and are from Mexico, the US, Spain Egypt, Sweden and Italy. A further 13 people were arrested on suspicion of public order offences unrelated to the investigation, which has been supported by Europol, the Swedish Police Authority and the Garda. The raids came after police were alerted in March about a woman, now based in the Republic of Ireland, who has made a complaint of being raped and sexually abused at AROPL's headquarters. All of the alleged offences involve one victim, a woman, when she was a member of the group in 2023.  Police stressed that their investigation is not into the religious group itself, and said there was 'no risk to the wider community'.  AROPL was previously based in Sweden but relocated to Webb House in 2021.  Leader Hashem, a former filmmaker who describes himself as the 'saviour of mankind', uses YouTube and TikTok to spread 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. 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.  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 Followers claim that Abdullah Hashem Aba al-Sadiq has cured their relatives just by touching them One woman claimed that the group's leader had kept her mother alive three times '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.' Police say there are currently 150 members living at Webb House, 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 'fulfilment of prophecy as per the narrations and scriptures of the Abrahamic faiths' - a term for the elements shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Men in black beanies were seen outside Webb House after it was raided by police  More than 500 police officers launched a raid of the sect's HQ in Crewe, Cheshire on Wednesday Officers had a warrant to search the premises and two other addresses on Wednesday 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.  Members of the public shout at members of the peace and light group outside of the compound Police stand by evidence tents as they attend the compound of the AROPL 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. They 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. The sect'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. 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.' 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