UK arrests members of religious Shia group accused of modern slavery

British police have conducted large-scale raids on several properties associated with a religious group over allegations including modern slavery and sexual offences.

More than 500 officers were involved in the operation, as part of an investigation of the group called the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (ARPOL), Caliber.Az reports citing British media.

Based in Cheshire county in northwest England, the group is a religious movement with roots in Twelver Shia Islam and was started at the beginning of the millennium. According to the UK's religion media centre, members believe that the Twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi (known as the rightly guided one), did not die but rather entered a state of occultation to return at the end times. This belief aligns with the view of Twelver Shia Islam, but in contrast to that branch, ARPOL argues that humankind now finds itself in the end times and that the Twelfth Imam has returned.

Cheshire Police said they were made aware last month of allegations of serious sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery, reported to have taken place in 2023.

The force said the group currently had 150 members, and the allegations related to one woman, who was a member at the time the offences were said to have taken place.

Of those arrested, the force said four were male and two female, with their nationalities including American, Mexican, Italian, Spanish and British.

Local authorities stressed, however, that "this is not an investigation into the religion, this is an investigation into the serious allegations which have been reported to us."

By Nazrin Sadigova