21 Members of 'Religious Sect' Arrested

July 4, 2005

Source: Arab News

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4&section=0&article=66378&d=4&m=7&y=2005

On July 4, 2005 Arab News reported, "Twenty-one members of a religious sect in Malaysia have been arrested for allegedly possessing documents contrary to Islam, an official said yesterday.

Muhammad Ramli Nuh, deputy chairman of Terengganu state Islamic development committee, said 14 men and seven women aged between 30 and 60 were detained.

Muhammad Ramli said the seven-hour operation began late Saturday and was carried out by religious and regular police officers. Among those arrested were a police officer, a member of a popular local rock group and the fourth wife of the sect leader who managed to evade arrest, the official Bernama news agency reported... In April the local land office ordered the community to destroy unusual structures it had built over the years � including a 'teapot' which stands several meters high, a giant vase and an umbrella-like tower � by May 28. It said they breached national regulations... The structures are designed to promote unity among all religions, [a spokesman for the Ayah Pin cult, Rosli Abdul Samad,] said, accusing local religious leaders of attempting to contain the teachings of Ayah Pin by ordering their destruction."