Police have arrested 21 suspected followers of an interfaith sect that built an outlandish commune in northeastern Malaysia, suspecting that the group is preaching beliefs that are contrary to Islam, an official said yesterday.
The Sky Kingdom group, which includes Muslims and says it fosters harmony among all of Malaysia's religions and races, has come into conflict with officials in northeastern Terengganu state for building a house-sized teapot, umbrella and boat on its commune as symbols of religious unity.
The 21 suspects arrested in pre-dawn raids on Sunday were freed on bail after being charged under an Islamic law that makes it illegal to posses documents contrary to the religion, said Lim Char Boo, head of the Criminal Investigations Department in Terengganu. Authorities did not elaborate on how the suspects violated the law.
However, the raids reflect the Malaysian government's extreme sensitivity toward sects that appear to go against mainstream Islam. Also at stake is racial harmony between the country's majority Muslims and the minority Hindus, Chinese Buddhists and Christians.
The fourth wife of Sky Kingdom leader Ariffin Mohammed was among the 14 men and seven women detained in a seven-and-a-half-hour operation, police said. A police inspector and a local rock musician also were arrested.
Ariffin, also known as Ayah Pin, wasn't present during the operation, Lim said. He said police assisted religious officials in the raids. An Islamic legal system -- applying only to Muslims -- runs in parallel with Malaysia's general legal system in areas that don't infringe on freedoms guaranteed under the federal Constitution.
"This is a religious case, not a criminal case, so it's up to the religious department to charge them and take them to court," Lim said.
He said the suspects will appear in court on Sept. 23, and face up to two years in prison and a fine if convicted.
About a month ago, authorities warned Sky Kingdom it must tear down the structures it built on its commune, saying they violate building codes. The Sky Kingdom group refused to demolish the structures but said it would not stop the government from doing so. They have not been torn down.
The sect reportedly claims that the structures, built on land owned by Ariffin's wife, combine architectural elements from Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism. The teapot signifies the purity of water and is associated with all major religions, while the umbrella signifies God, who shelters everybody, according to the group.
In 2001, Ariffin was jailed for 11 months for denigrating Islamic tenets, and was declared a danger to society, the Star newspaper said.
About a decade ago, the government banned a peaceful sect called al-Arkam for allegedly spreading deviant Islamic teachings.
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