Human rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has filed a formal complaint with the UN special rapporteur for freedom on religion/belief, alleging state-led persecution against self-proclaimed spiritual leader Ayah Pin and his followers.

Ayah Pin, 65, whose real name is Ariffin Mohammad, was the leader of a 150-member commune dubbed the 'Sky Kingdom', located near Jerteh in Terengganu.

He claims to be the reincarnation of holy figures of all major religions and has preached the universality of religion since the early 1980s. However, Islamic authorities issued a fatwa (decree) in 1997 declaring the teachings as deviant.

In a letter dated Aug 15, a copy of which was made available to malaysiakini , Suaram co-ordinator Seah Li Ling said the group had learnt that followers of the "minority religious sect" have pursued "their faith in a peaceful and law-abiding way".

"None of their activities have in any way infringed other people's rights or threatened social order. Thus, we see their arrest and detention as unlawful and arbitrary and the authorities' action against them as totally uncalled for," she wrote.

"In view of the urgency of the matter, we seek immediate intervention from the UN for the redress of the injustice (to) and plight of Ayah Pin and his followers."

The complaint was based on grounds that their fundamental human rights had been violated in relation to life, liberty and security, equality before the law, freedom of thought, conscience and religion and protection from arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

"We view this issue as a matter of concern, as Ayah Pin and his followers are deprived of fundamental human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," Seah added.

PM among 'perpetrators'

Suaram named a total of seven individuals and agencies as the "perpetrators" of human rights violations against Ayah Pin and his followers.

They are Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Minister in the PM's Department Abdullah Md Zin, Home Minister Azmi Khalid, Deputy Internal Security Minister Noh Omar, Inspector-General of Police Mohd Bakri Omar, Terengganu Mufti Syeikh Abdul Halim Abdul Kadir and the state religious affairs department.

The commune - known for a cluster of giant structures - was raided on July 2 by an enforcement team that included state religious officials and police personnel.

On July 18, a 50-member mob mounted a pre-dawn attack that saw the structures being damaged and set on fire. Suaram noted in its complaint that only two arrests have been made in connection with this incident.

Religious officials moved in two days later to round up more followers. While Ayah Pin remains at large , 45 followers have been arrested and charged for possessing documents contrary to Islam or for insulting the religion.

If found guilty, they face a maximum fine of RM3,000 or up to two years in jail, or both.

However, they have run into difficulty in engaging legal counsel in Terengganu as syariah lawyers there are unwilling to represent them due to the "sensitivity" of the issue. Lawyers outside the state have no locus standi to represent them.

The structures and houses in the commune were demolished earlier this month, forcing the dispersal of its remaining residents.

Sky Kingdom photos