When Religion Becomes a Shield for Exploitation

“I AM disgusted.” A simple yet deeply disturbing statement from the director of the Federal Police’s Criminal Investigation Department, Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, when asked about the investigation into Global Ikhwan Service and Business Holding (GISBH).

His words, short but powerful, reflect a growing sense of outrage at what is coming to light.

Imagine a man who claims to be the father of 34 children, but admits that he knows the whereabouts of only two of his children. This is not fiction – it is the testimony of one of the detainees with ties to GISBH, a so-called “Muslim enterprise” at the centre of a shocking investigation.

This man, one of 156 suspects arrested during Ops Global raids, is part of a system that smacks of exploitation.

According to police inspector Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, multiple wives, neglected children and a disturbing culture of avoidance appear to be the norm within this group.

What really sickens the soul, however, is not just the behavior of these individuals. It is the horrific response of some members of our society – the very people who should be condemning these actions instead defend them, making excuses rooted in religious and cultural narratives.

Even more worrying, various groups are trying to change the narrative by saying, “We must protect Muslim-owned businesses.” But does the fact that it is a Muslim-owned business justify the atrocities committed against children?

(Image: PDRM)

This kind of reasoning promotes blind loyalty and twists Islam for personal gain. Such stories, rooted in manipulation, leave no room for accountability or morality, and use religion as a weapon for selfish ends.

This is not only dangerous – it is a gross misrepresentation of faith. How did we reach the point where such blatant abuses are excused in the name of faith or business?

Let us be clear: there is no justification for abandoning children, for creating an environment in which men can avoid their responsibilities, for abusing children and women, or for cultivating a culture of impunity.

This is not about Islam, but about people who hide behind religion to justify their mistakes.

It is pure and simple exploitation

Yet political actors, religious figures and community leaders are stepping forward, not to denounce this grotesque abuse of power, but to protect these perpetrators. They wrap themselves in the cloak of religious righteousness, as if faith can shield them from accountability.

A major political player, PAS, has issued a statement expressing support for the police investigation into GISB.

While calling for action against individuals found guilty of misconduct, PAS Secretary-General Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan stressed that the pursuit of punishment should not have a negative impact on the group as a whole, and particularly not on its innocent members or the legitimate and beneficial activities of GISBH.

“PAS believes that the positive contributions of this group, including its extensive business network, must be protected from hasty or unjust actions driven by impulsive feelings, prejudice, competition or political agendas,” he said in a statement.

He also stressed that any action against GISBH must be taken with caution.

Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Image: Bernama)

Does PAS really believe that it is acceptable to build a business empire on the suffering of abused children and women? Is PAS prepared to ignore the exploitation of vulnerable individuals in order to protect a business network?

This is not just an insult to women, children and families – it is an insult to the values ​​of Islam itself.

What is most shocking is that we are expected to sit quietly while these stories are pushed, as if we are too blind or complacent to challenge them. This is not just “disappointing”; it is a great disservice to justice.

Normalized abuses

A country like ours, a country that prides itself on diversity, human rights and fairness, cannot stand by and watch such abuses become normalized. We must reject any attempt to disguise exploitation under the guise of religious matters.

It is time we face the unpleasant truth: when companies like GISBH are allowed to flourish unchecked and undefended, we are not just witnessing individual abuses.

We are witnessing a systemic failure, where religious justification is used as an excuse for behavior that should never be tolerated.

Enough is enough. If we claim to stand up for justice, then our society must rise up and reject these so-called “defenders” of the faith, who in reality are nothing more than defenders of exploitation.

In addition, we must not overlook the stories of young women who were indoctrinated at universities, married to men within the cult, and reduced to nothing more than slaves and reproductive machines for their husbands.

It is unthinkable that such abuse could take place in the name of religion. Over 400 children have been rescued from homes allegedly run by GISBH, many of them with physical and emotional scars from severe neglect, physical abuse and even sexual violence.

Several senior managers, including CEO Datuk Nasiruddin Mohd Ali, have been arrested for their involvement in GISBH, which also reportedly has links to the now-banned Al-Arqam sect.

This scandal raises urgent questions: how could these atrocities take place under the guise of Islam, and how have we as a society allowed it to flourish?

Women and children invisible victims

Amidst all the chaos, one crucial point has been overlooked: the abuse and indoctrination of women and children, which has been going on shamelessly for at least two generations.

Religious authorities, while actively punishing personal sins, allowed these horrible atrocities to continue and remained silent for five years. Why?

Ultimately, the Islamic image that GISBH projected was used to blind their sharp focus, which was typically focused on imposing punitive measures for individual transgressions.

GISBH, which is seen as an Islamic organisation, certainly benefited from this. It allowed it to conceal the horrific internal abuses inflicted on its members, particularly women and children.

It is deeply disturbing that such practices were allowed to take place, largely because religion remains a taboo subject in Malaysia. If these indoctrinated women had been in an environment where open discussions about religion were encouraged, they may have been able to make more informed and empowered choices.

Benefits of Patriarchy for Men

GISBH stinks of patriarchy, where men reaped immense benefits. Despite the lack of financial resources, many had multiple wives and some fathered as many as twenty children, completely ignoring their responsibility to provide for their families as prescribed by Islamic law.

It is incomprehensible that one man can take care of twenty children, especially in a world where taking care of one child is already a challenge.

In this environment, children were abused both physically and emotionally, while women were enslaved and stripped of any sense of their rights – whether under Islamic or federal law.

People worked for the organization without pay, and only Allah knows what other circumstances they went through. What did these women and children go through?

We will never fully comprehend the magnitude of their suffering, but we can imagine the pain and helplessness they must have felt.

There is a clear reason why GISBH has been able to flourish: as a nation, we are afraid to talk openly and critically about religion, especially when parochial interpretations emerge from the prevailing narrative determined by the authorities, and by extension the government.

This story is deeply rooted in patriarchy, which emphasizes male superiority and the expectation that women remain subordinate.

Call for accountability

Recent revelations about delays in addressing care home abuses linked to GISBH highlight a disturbing pattern of government inaction.

Despite JAKIM’s acknowledgement that the measures began in 2019, with closed meetings of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI), the Chambers of the Prosecutor General, and a special meeting of national security services in 2022, it took more than five years for the authorities to take meaningful action.

This delay highlights systemic failings at key enforcement agencies, raising critical questions about accountability.

Why were the nursing homes allowed to continue operating for so long despite clear warnings? The inaction exposes gaps in coordination and implementation that are causing serious harm to vulnerable populations.

Justice delayed is justice denied. And in this case, religious sensitivities seem to overshadow the urgent need for protection and timely intervention.

The government must prioritize swift and transparent action to ensure future responses are swift and that law enforcement agencies are held accountable for their role in protecting the public, especially children in Malaysia. – September 25, 2024

Sisters in Islam is a non-governmental organisation that advocates for the rights of Muslim women in Malaysia within the framework of Islam, universal human rights principles, constitutional guarantees and women’s living conditions and experiences.

The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.

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