Lawyers instructed by members of The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) say all members deny "all" allegations made against them.

In March 2026, Cheshire Police were made aware of allegations of serious sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery, reported to have taken place in 2023.

All of the offences involved one victim, a woman, who was a member of the group at the time the offences occurred.

Following a detailed investigation into the allegations, officers executed three warrants in Crewe on Wednesday 29 April, including AROPL's Webb House HQ.

This led to the arrest of seven men and three women, all of whom have since been released on conditional bail pending further enquiries.

Since the warrant, officers conducted evidential searches at Webb House for five days, concluding on Sunday 3 May.

Evidential searches at Webb House took place for five days, concluding on Sunday 3 May (Photo: Nub News).

The 10 suspects who were arrested in relation to the serious sex, modern slavery and forced marriage allegations, including the cult's leader, Abdullah Hashem, all have strict bail conditions which prevent them from returning to the site.

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Hashem, 42, along with Ali Muhammad, 35. Veronica Carla Esponda, 44. Eyad Elkhouly, 44, and Kevin Omar Rodriguez-Ponce, 30, have also been issued with issued with interim Slavery and Trafficking risk orders.

These civil orders provide additional restrictions, enabling Cheshire Police to manage these five individuals, ensuring there is "no risk to the public and other members of the group."

Lawyers representing the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light community told Nub News: "'Members of the AROPL deny all the allegations made and are co-operating with the investigation.

"They are unable to comment further at this time."

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