Ex-cult member reflects on life inside banned Malaysian sect
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The man who grew up in al-Arqam recalled how happy he felt to be indoctrinated in the sect’s teachings before Malaysia banned it and offshoots for practicing what was deemed a deviant interpretation of Islam.
Al-Arqam and a company started by members of the sect are the focus of a child-abuse scandal and criminal investigation that has rocked this majority-Muslim Southeast Asian country since allegations against it came to light in mid-September.
As of Tuesday, over 660 children have been rescued by authorities from welfare homes operated by Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISBH) – the company linked to the sect. Police have also detained at least 350 people in connection with allegations that minors were sexually abused or abused in other ways at the group homes.
Ashaari Muhammad, the late founder of al-Arqam, which the Malaysian government banned in 1994, referred to himself as a prophet.
According to the ex-member, who is now in his early 40s, followers were taught to believe that “we couldn’t use our intellect” because people with intellects were “considered corrupt.” Going on vacation or on shopping sprees were viewed as corrupt pastimes.
“When we were inside, we were happy because we were indoctrinated with those beliefs,” the man told BenarNews in an interview.
The ex-sect member asked that he not be identified because he feared that others would see him as an enemy to Islam and it would be permissible to do anything against him.
The text of this interview has been edited for length and clarity. This report also features videos with segments from an audio-recording of the interview.
BenarNews: How did you become involved with al-Arqam?
Former sect member: [I] was born and raised in Arqam. Then when Arqam was banned, I was no longer involved. Later, Rufaqa was established. I was among the first to join. Then Rufaqa was banned.
I followed Global Ikhwan. When Global Ikhwan was banned, it was changed to Global Ikhwan Holding (GISBH).
[I]t’s all the same. Arqam is Rufaqa, Rufaqa is Global Ikhwan, just changing names, just shedding skin. But in reality, the methods are all the same, and even, toward the end, they became more and more deviant.
When we were inside, we were happy because we were indoctrinated with those beliefs. One of the doctrines that was heavily emphasized to followers was that we couldn’t use our intellect. Anyone who used their intellect was considered corrupt.
… [W]e only needed to follow the leader’s instructions. At first, we felt happy because we thought this was the real truth. We believed this was the righteous group, the only correct group at the end of times.
Content retrieved from: https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/malaysian/al-arqam-islam-sect-ex-member-speaks-10082024142849.html.
