Negeri Sembilan religious authorities detain 18 over deviant teachings

The Negri Sembilan Islamic Religious Affairs Department detained 18 women for alleged involvement in a deviant religious group known as Kumpulan Zikir Asmaul Husna during a raid on a house in Johol, Kuala Pilah.

The department’s enforcement chief Ahmad Zaki Hamzah said the women, aged between 20 and 60, were listening to a religious talk by the founder of the group when the raid was conducted at 9.30am yesterday.

He said several documents, books, and equipment believed to be used by the group were also seized during the raid.

“Most of the followers of the group are housewives, some staying outside the state, and they are believed to have been recruited via the WhatsApp application and Telegram.

“There is an edict (fatwa) by the State Mufti Department that the teachings by the group are against the teachings of the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah and its founder was even summoned to the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, in February 2021, to pledge his repentance,” Ahmad Zaki told reporters.

He said the group is believed to have followers all over the country and is attempting to spread its teachings to Indonesia.

- Bernama

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