How do groups like GISB thrive, and should they be protected by religious freedom?

KUALA LUMPUR — The crackdown on Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB) Holdings was criticized by some as coming too late, given that the beliefs behind it have existed for more than five decades among various business entities.

However, police have said that former members who filed police reports later withdrew them, indicating a climate of fear within the organization among members who disagreed with their leaders.

What has allowed groups like GISB, which has roots in the banned Al-Arqam movement, to flourish for so long and grow to more than 400 branches in 20 countries with more than 5,000 employees in 25 subsidiaries?

Intercultural specialist Asma Abdullah said cultural assumptions close to the hearts of Malaysian society may have contributed to the group’s long existence and the apparent delay in action against it.

One of these assumptions is that obedience is required to figures who claim spiritual authority over followers.

Collectivist societies, which privilege the group over the individual, also place a high value on harmony, hierarchy, shame (maruah), collectivism, and religion, all of which determine the emergence and image of cult-like groups, as well as their function.

“Because Malaysian society values ​​religious piety, sects can disguise themselves as religious movements, making it harder for outsiders or authorities to detect or criticize them without being seen as an attack on religious freedom,” Asma told Scoop.

The tension between protecting individual rights and upholding religious freedom becomes apparent when cult leaders manipulate religious and cultural values ​​to maintain control over their followers.

Abuses within sects, she added, can go unnoticed for years due to the hierarchical, collectivist and religious nature of Malaysian society.

“Particularly in Malaysian culture, the cultural dimensions of hierarchy and shame play an important role in discouraging people from questioning authority or challenging social norms.

“In societies where respect for authority is culturally embedded and keeping face (avoiding shame) is a high priority, individuals may feel pressure to conform rather than speak out,” she added.

She noted that such pressure can lead to situations where harmful practices go unchallenged, especially in religious or communal contexts, as questioning leadership can be seen as disrespectful or destabilizing.

Cult members, she said, may see their participation in such movements as a way to maintain communal harmony, which is highly valued in collectivist societies.

Although a strong desire for group identity normally causes members to seek safety within cults while relying on the guidance and care of their leader, such societal structures can also lay the groundwork for cult leaders to exploit their position, potentially leading to to manipulation, coercion and criminal behavior.

“(GISB’s) alleged involvement in child abuse and sexual exploitation underlines how such crimes can be concealed under the guise of communal welfare and religious authority,” she said.

“The power hierarchy within the group allowed the leader to exert control over followers (while) the culture of respect for authority likely discouraged individuals from reporting or resisting abuse.”

Earlier, the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) said the action against GISB had already started in February 2019.

The then director general of Jakim, Datin Hakimah Mohd Yusoff, said that since then, 12 meetings, workshops, special task forces and collaborations with national security agencies such as the National Security Council, the Ministry of Interior and the police have taken place on the issue.

After recent police raids uncovered sexual and physical abuse of children in care homes linked to GISB, Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain denied the allegations of deferred action and said that while police had filed 41 reports on GISB since 2011 had investigated, but had only made arrests. now after receiving credible evidence.

The multi-agency investigation into GISB, dubbed Op Global, was launched on September 11 this year and began with raids on 20 nursing homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan police linked to the group over allegations of child abuse and exploitation.

Nearly 600 victims, some as young as a year old, have been rescued, while eight people have been charged so far, including on child abuse and criminal intimidation charges.

Does freedom of religion play a role?

The raids on GISB have prompted some to take to social media to say that groups should be allowed to believe and practice what they want.

However, Alwani Ghazali, a lecturer at University Malaya’s department of faith and Islamic thought, questions whether religious freedom remains the main concern when facing criminal charges.

Cult-like movements that break the law not only pose a national security problem, but also threaten individual freedom, given the authoritarian structure of their groups.

“The role of cult leaders in managing the affairs of the members can also be seen as a dictatorship over followers and manipulation of them for the leader’s self-interest,” Alwani told Scoop.

“The consequences are clear in the case of GISB: lack of respect for the human intellect, individual freedom and dignity, (exploitative) human labor, mental abuse of children and so on.

“What does freedom of religion mean if it is harmful to human dignity, safety, security and sanctity?” she asked.

Alwani also warned that the label “cult” should not be used liberally, and that movements should be fairly investigated before being assigned this designation.

Investigative moves require complex evidence gathering involving the jurisdiction of multiple agencies, she added. Religious teachings could be used as a reference source, while enforcement authorities would focus on safety issues.

How religion is taught

Asked whether the way religious education is taught in schools could be a factor in attracting people to sects, Alwani cautioned against pinning the blame on pedagogy.

She said the tradition of Islamic scholarship is “profound, intellectually stimulating and sophisticated,” although teachers’ approaches vary from individual to individual, creating different experiences and effects for different students.

“There are smart religious teachers who are creative, encourage critical thinking and teach children both wisdom and maturity, (but) perhaps their numbers are small,” she said.

“It is also a misconception and incorrect to link deviant teachings with the pedagogy of religious teachings in public schools as most who were involved in cults and deviant teachings did not receive proper training on Islam as a religion from authentic sources and credible teachers. ” she added. – October 6, 2024

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