Investigation into Immigration Visa Use by Company Linked to Religious Sect
The Home Office is investigating a company connected to a religious sect based in Cheshire regarding its use of immigration visas.
The company under scrutiny is associated with the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL), a sect that combines Islamic principles with conspiracy theories involving the Illuminati and extraterrestrials allegedly controlling US presidents. Followers believe the sect’s leader, Abdullah Hashem, possesses the ability to heal the sick and perform extraordinary feats such as making the moon disappear. Approximately 100 adherents reside in a former orphanage located in Crewe, in north-west England.
The community relocated to the UK in 2021 after moving their headquarters from Sweden, where immigration authorities had investigated several companies linked to the sect and issued deportation orders to dozens of its members.
Currently, UK immigration officials are examining a company tied to the sect concerning its use of skilled worker visas to facilitate the entry of individuals into the country.
The Home Office has confirmed the investigation, which is believed to focus on visa usage by AROPL Studios, a company established in 2021 to create social media and YouTube content related to the sect’s teachings.
Data provided to by the Home Office revealed that AROPL Studios was granted 12 skilled worker visas between 2022 and 2025.
Skilled worker visas, introduced in 2020, enable companies to employ foreign workers with specialist skills for designated roles. In September 2025, the Home Office announced intensified measures against sponsors found to be abusing the immigration system.
AROPL has denied engaging in illegal immigration practices. Through legal representatives, the group stated that the immigration status of all its members and employees is lawful and that it was unaware of any ongoing investigation.
Leader Abdullah Hashem and Online Presence
Hashem, who is often seen wearing a black beanie hat, has cultivated a following through professionally produced online videos. AROPL’s YouTube channel has amassed over 31 million views. Some videos present his teachings, while others claim that Hashem has performed miracles, such as reviving a woman near death, curing a follower’s arthritis, and causing angels to fly across the sky.
Hashem has previously discussed the international composition of the UK-based group. In a video published late last year, he stated:
“We have people here from Malaysia. We’ve got people here from Azerbaijan. We’ve got people here from Algeria, from Morocco, from Tunisia, from Egypt … We’ve got people from every continent on the globe almost, right? And we got [people] from about a hundred different countries and they’re all living together peacefully, harmoniously, getting married to one another.”
Previous Investigations and Deportations in Sweden
This Home Office investigation is not the first the group has faced. reviewed multiple immigration court rulings in Sweden, where authorities identified three AROPL-linked companies as “rogue employers” that hired sect followers to facilitate their Swedish residency.
The Swedish migration court issued 69 deportation orders for AROPL members. AROPL informed that the group had already departed Sweden and relocated to the UK when the orders were issued.
Hashem publicly condemned the migration court’s decisions as unjust.
AROPL’s legal counsel asserted that any claims suggesting improper use of visas to bring followers to the UK are unfounded and that the group possesses documentation to substantiate lawful visa use.
Religious Recognition and Persecution Claims
The group described itself as a peaceful, open, and transparent movement rooted in Shia Islam and stated it has been recognized as a religion by multiple international organizations. It also noted that members have faced persecution in some countries due to the sect’s interpretation of Islam, which permits alcohol consumption and allows women to forgo wearing the hijab.
