KOTA KINABALU: Twelve leaders, along with main organisers of the Ahmadiyah Qadiani group, were detained in a special operation while attending a programme linked to teachings declared deviant in Sabah.
Also detained in the operation conducted by the police and Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS) were the group’s 288 members, believed to have attended the 32nd Sabah Regional Jalsa Salana programme.
Acting Kota Kinabalu OCPD Supt Syed Lot Syed Ab Rahman said the operation was carried out following a public complaint received by JHEAINS on May 28 regarding the programme’s organisation.
He said checks found that the programme was connected to the Ahmadiyah Qadiani group, which was declared deviant by the state fatwa committee and was gazetted in 2007, as it strayed from the teachings of Islam.
“During the operation, authorities also seized 24 banners displaying the founder and top leaders of the Ahmadiyah Qadiani group,” he said in a statement.
Supt Syed Lot said about 200 books and reading materials related to the teachings, programme documents, attendance lists, publications and various documents linked to the group’s activities were also confiscated.
The case is being investigated under the Sabah Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment 1995.
“All individuals detained were taken to the Kota Kinabalu district police headquarters for documentation and further investigation by JHEAINS before being released on bail,” he said.
He urged the public to seek religious guidance from recognised and authoritative sources and to refer to religious authorities if they have any doubts about teachings or beliefs being disseminated.
“Firm action will be taken against any individual or group found to be deviating from Islamic teachings,” he added.
