UNITED KINGDOM: Police crackdown of 500 officers on a peaceful Muslim group in Crewe
By Willy Fautré, director of Human Rights Without Frontiers
HRWF (01.05.2026) – On 29 April, some 500 British officers from Cheshire Police and neighbouring forces raided the headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) in Crewe (Cheshire).
The operation was launched after Cheshire police were informed in March about a former member of the religious group who had made a complaint of being raped and sexually abused at AROPL’s headquarters in 2023. As of today, this allegation has not been confirmed by a court decision. The name of the alleged perpetrator who would be wanted by the police has not been published by the British authorities and media.
Allegations of sexual offences, human trafficking, modern slavery and forced marriage have been mentioned by journalists. A dozen people were taken to the police station to be interrogated about the allegations and were released from custody on bail less than two days later. The investigation to check the truthfulness of the allegations is ongoing.
Chief Superintendent Gareth Wrigley of Cheschire Constabulary declared the operation was “not an investigation into the religion” but it was an investigation into the allegations which had been reported to them.
As denunciations from former disgruntled members are always to be taken with caution, let us wait and see the further developments of the investigation. What can be said at this stage is that the magnitude of the raid looks disproportionate and the use of excessive force might be questioned by a number of AROPL members. This aspect of the intervention has already been raised by a lawyer in an article published by Bitter Winter.
What is the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL)?
That new religious minority in Islam has been persecuted both in Shia-majority and Sunni-majority countries, such as Algeria, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco and others.
Reports about their persecution have been regularly published by the United Nations, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Amnesty International, CAP/ Liberté de conscience and our NGO Human Rights Without Frontiers for several years. Articles have also been published in well-known media outlets such as The Diplomat Magazine, EU Reporter or The European Times, to name a few.
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) is a Shia-derivative new religious movement which was founded in 1999 in the chaotic post-Saddam Iraq by Ahmed al-Hassan (Introvigne and Kotkowska 2024), a civil engineer born in 1968 in Basra. He claimed to have physically met the Twelfth Imam, who had entrusted him with a special mission. The movement soon expanded to other countries with Sunni or Shia majority populations. It is headed by the Egyptian American national Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq and follows the teachings of Imam Ahmed al-Hassan as its divine guide.
The new religious movement is not to be confused with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community founded in the 19th century by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (1835-1908) within a Sunni context, with which it has no relations.
The persecution of the Ahmadi religion of Peace and Light stems from its core teachings that diverge from and challenge certain traditional beliefs within Islam.
These teachings include the acceptance of practices such as consuming alcoholic beverages, embracing and showing tolerance towards LGBTQI individuals, and recognizing women’s right to wear or not the headscarf.
Additionally, members of the religion question specific prayer rituals, including the notion of mandatory five daily prayers, and hold the belief that the month of fasting (Ramadan) falls in December each year.
They also challenge the traditional location of the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, asserting it is in modern-day Petra, in Jordan, rather than Mecca.
Last but not least, sharing the tenets of their faith and their beliefs with others in private and in public, whatever the cost, is their highest spiritual mission on earth. This is the main reason of the hostility of the political authorities in Muslim majority countries and Shia or Sunni populations, as they are considered to spread heresies.
Moreover, the persecution has dramatically escalated following the publication in English in 2022 of their official “Gospel”, “The Goal of the Wise” authored by their leader, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, whom the members of the faith follow and consider as the Qaim/Riser of the Family of Mohammed and the awaited Mahdi.
Testimonies of the victims of the SWAT operation
In the aftermath of the events, a document was circulated exposing the grievances of the victims of the police raid.
Allegations of Excessive Force and Human Rights Violations During April 29 Raid
Use of excessive force and human rights violations have emerged following a police raid on members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light at approximately 8:50 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29.
Witness accounts from individuals present during the operation describe a highly aggressive and, at times, chaotic intervention that they say disproportionately impacted women, children, and other peaceful people.
According to those on site, approximately 500 police officers participated in the raid.
Individuals inside the premises report being confined to rooms and prevented from opening windows, raising concerns about safety and basic living conditions during the operation. A search warrant was not presented until roughly an hour after the raid had already begun.
Use of Force and Treatment of Individuals
Numerous accounts describe the use of physical force by officers. People were tasered, physically restrained, and in some cases violently thrown to the ground. One individual suffered a head injury after being slammed onto the floor. Officers engaged in intimidating behaviour, including banging on riot shields and shouting threats.
They dragged the children and intimidated them.
They damaged the property which – a historical building, doors were busted open and broken.
They smashed cups and glasses on the floor.
Women were subjected to physical mistreatment, including clothing being torn and several individuals—including pregnant women—were pushed or thrown to the ground.
A 16-year-old girl was struck in the face, and multiple witnesses describe both men and women being assaulted while in custody.
Religious sensitivities were also reportedly disregarded. Aba Al Sadiq, a prominent figure among the group, was taken into custody, his religious headwear removed, despite prior assurances it would not be.
Food provisions during the day were inadequate, consisting mainly of fruit and dried bread, supplied by members of the community rather than authorities. Children were visibly distressed, crying and exhibiting signs of trauma throughout the incident.
Medical needs also appear to have gone unmet. One woman missed critical dialysis treatment due to being denied access to care during the operation.
Impact on Children and Families
Children were significantly affected during the raid. Minors were separated from their parents, including a one-year-old child. Several children were interrogated without parental presence. Others were left without essential items such as diapers, clothing, or medication, with some forced to remain in soiled clothing for extended periods.
Children were in pyjamas being dragged out of their beds and out of the house.
Women and children had to walk bare foot on the asphalt to the police station and were not allowed to get their shoes.
Events Inside the “Hall of Mysteries”
A large number of women and children had gathered in an area referred to as the “Hall of Mysteries.” Authorities initially offered individuals the option to leave the premises, but when they attempted to do so, they were prevented from exiting and, in some cases, physically confronted. A pregnant woman was thrown to the ground, including one who is more than 8 months pregnant. Handcuffed individuals were physically beaten while detained.
Pepper spray was used against the women in the Hall of Mysteries with children present
Those inside describe scenes of panic, with children crying and families attempting unsuccessfully to leave what they perceived as an unsafe environment.
Concerns Over Due Process
Multiple individuals have raised concerns about due process during the raid. Witnesses say they were given misleading or contradictory instructions by authorities. Some were told they would be allowed to return after questioning, only to later be denied re-entry.
No reason was provided regarding the arrest of people at Webb house, they found out about them in the media, while the officers on site at Webb House did not give any details when asked.
Legal counsel warned that individuals could be accused of obstruction regardless of compliance, further contributing to confusion and fear among those detained.
Incidents at the Police Station
Following the raid, further allegations emerged regarding the treatment of individuals at a nearby police station. Protesters who gathered were told they could demonstrate peacefully. However, without warning, police used force to disperse the crowd, including kicking, using tear gas, and deploying pepper spray.
Among the reported incidents are that men were kicked in the groin, a young woman kicked repeatedly on the floor, an elderly man was assaulted, and a child was exposed to pepper spray. A pregnant woman was also struck in the stomach during the confrontation.
Calls for Investigation
These actions by the Cheshire Police and Constabulary raise serious questions about proportionality, accountability, and adherence to human rights standards. Violence against vulnerable individuals, denial of medical care, and interference with religious practices have prompted calls for an independent investigation into the conduct of the authorities involved.
Photo: Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light harassed by unidentified people in a recent past
Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light harassed by unidentified people in a recent past
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