THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Bal Ram Sampla
Geopolitics
The Police Raid on the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light Background
Please note it is unrelated to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at.
In April 2026, one of the largest police operations in recent British history descended on the quiet town of Crewe, in Cheshire, England. More than 500 officers from forces across the northwest of England converged on properties linked to a religious organisation called the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, commonly known as ARPOL. The scale of the operation shocked many observers, but police insisted it was the result of a detailed, months-long investigation into extremely serious allegations.
Why Police Raided the Property
The raid was triggered by allegations made by a woman who had formerly been a member of ARPOL. In March 2026, she came forward with claims of serious sexual offences, forced marriage, and modern slavery — all of which she alleged took place in 2023 while she was still part of the group. Cheshire Police took the allegations seriously and launched a thorough investigation before executing the warrants.
ARPOL’s headquarters at Webb House — a large, Grade II-listed former orphanage in Crewe — was the primary target of the operation. At the time of the raids, approximately 150 people were living at the site, including 56 children who were being home-schooled on the premises. Officers also executed warrants at two other properties connected to the group in the town.
Ten people were ultimately arrested, including two American men, two Mexican men, a British man, an Egyptian man, an Italian woman, a Spanish man, a Swedish woman, and an American woman. The charges against them ranged from human trafficking and sexual assault to modern slavery and forced marriage offences. Police were careful to emphasise that their investigation was directed at the individuals involved in the alleged crimes — not at ARPOL’s religious beliefs as a whole.
Violence and Resistance Faced by Police
The operation did not pass without incident. Thirteen additional people were arrested on public order offences during the raids, separate from those detained as part of the core investigation. This suggests that officers encountered resistance or disorder on the ground as they moved through the properties.
ARPOL members and some outside legal observers also made allegations of excessive force against the police. Witnesses described a forceful intervention that began early in the morning, and complaints were raised about violence toward members, denial of medical care, and interference with religious practices. The group also alleged procedural irregularities, claiming officers gave contradictory instructions and failed to provide clear information about the arrests.
ARPOL went further, filing a complaint with the United Nations regarding what it described as the mistreatment of its members — not just in the UK, but also in Sweden, where authorities had previously revoked residency permits for dozens of the group’s members. Some observers suggested the British operation may have been influenced by intelligence shared by Swedish police.
Conclusion
The raid on ARPOL’s Crewe headquarters was a significant and controversial law enforcement operation. Police maintained it was a proportionate and necessary response to grave allegations of abuse and exploitation. ARPOL, on the other hand, portrayed itself as the victim of religious persecution. As the investigation continues and the arrested individuals await further legal proceedings, the full truth of what occurred — both inside the compound and during the raid itself — remains to be established in court.
References
1.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uk-religious-sect-aropl-arrests-ahmadi-modern-slavery-forced-marriage-sexual-assault/
2.https://youtu.be/PHEVjCZE47s?si=hGuYRIOeoL_jOSeB
3.https://youtu.be/WloLTWNvNgc?si=MqbNF-t71hfqnHhy
4.https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/media_hub/media_releases/cheshire-police-operation-crewe-cheshire-east-council-support.aspx
5.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmadi_Religion_of_Peace_and_Light
