AROPL Member Disappears Amid Rising Persecution in Malaysia

PENGERANG, JOHOR - The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL) has raised alarm over the disappearance of one of its Malaysian members, Muhammad Hisyam Fikri bin Mohd Sarif, 28, who has been missing since September 4, 2025.

According to fellow AROPL believers, Hisyam last communicated with them via a video call, during which he expressed concern that his family and in-laws had rejected his religious beliefs and labeled him an apostate. Since that call, no one, from his family to his faith community, has heard from him.

On September 17, AROPL members visited his workplace in an attempt to locate him. There, they were informed that Hisyam had allegedly been arrested by the Johor State Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ). However, no official confirmation or details regarding the date, charges, or his current whereabouts have been provided.

Fellow believers fear Hisyam’s disappearance is linked to previous threats he received from family members, who had reportedly warned him that they would involve religious authorities over his affiliation with AROPL.

Pattern of Persecution

Hisyam’s case is not isolated. Members of AROPL in Malaysia report increasing levels of harassment, surveillance, and detainment, not only by authorities but also by Islamist vigilantes. In many cases, they have threatened, intimidated, and even physically assaulted individuals suspected of belonging to the faith.

Hisyam was a visible member of the AROPL community in Malaysia, regularly participating in missionary activities across Johor Bahru, Malacca, Kuala Lumpur, and Port Dickson. His work included distributing flyers and food, particularly to the homeless. In one event in Port Dickson, he used drones to distribute materials during the PAS National Eidilfitri Open House. Photos and videos of these activities were shared on social media.

Legal and Social Repression

Recent incidents in Malaysia illustrate a broader pattern of state-led repression. In October 2024, Zolekafeli bin Abd Ghani, a 60-year-old retired firefighter, was sentenced to six months in prison by the Negeri Sembilan Sharia High Court. He was charged with  spreading "false doctrines" after sharing his beliefs with his family members.

In June 2025, another couple, Muhammad Firdaus bin Yaacob and his wife, Noor Zaza Atiera binti Zahanuddin, were detained by the Pahang Islamic Religious Department (JAIP). Held for 24 hours and separated from each other upon release, the couple were charged in August with possessing religious materials linked to AROPL and deviating from Sunni Islam.

This surge in enforcement actions appears to have intensified after eight members of the group organized a small LGBTQ+ solidarity protest in July 2023, which went viral. The protest sparked a nationwide backlash. Authorities officially banned the religion, while Religious Affairs Minister Mohd. Na’im bin Mokhtar condemned AROPL for violating Islamic Sharia. The Federal Territory Mufti's office labeled its teachings “heretical”, and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission moved swiftly to censor the group’s online presence.

Since then, state Islamic departments have coordinated aggressive efforts to suppress the faith. In April 2024, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) issued a Friday sermon titled “Avoid Heresy,” instructing mosques across the state to denounce AROPL teachings and encourage worshippers to report followers.

Media coverage has amplified the hostility. National headlines have repeatedly portrayed the group as a deviant sect and linked its teachings to moral decline and social unrest. Prominent clerics have openly called for government crackdowns, urging the public to report members and pushing for tighter controls over religious expression online.

A Community Under Siege

AROPL members say they now live in constant fear. Many conceal their beliefs even from their families, as apostasy accusations can lead not only to legal action but also to vigilante violence. Several have reported receiving threatening messages from individuals claiming to be officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

In March 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs banned The Goal of the Wise, citing concerns over public order, despite the peaceful teachings of the faith. The ban has emboldened further action against believers, including arbitrary arrests and book seizures.

These state and societal pressures have created an environment where followers of AROPL in Malaysia are systematically marginalized, harassed, and silenced. The religion continues to exist underground, with over 200 estimated members in the country.

Urgent Call for Action

Hisyam’s disappearance, in this context, is particularly troubling. AROPL members fear that he may be detained without legal recourse or worse. They are currently working with legal counsel to determine his location and ensure his safety.

“The Malaysian government’s campaign against our faith is not just about laws, it’s about erasing our identity,” said one AROPL member, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns. “Hisyam’s case shows how dangerous it has become to simply believe something different.”

As international human rights organizations increasingly monitor religious freedom in Southeast Asia, AROPL members are calling for urgent attention and protection. Hisyam’s fate, they say, may depend on it.