SHAH ALAM, Sept 22 — The Selangor State Fatwa Committee special meeting will cover all considerations on GISB Holdings’ activities on September 30.
Selangor Mufti Assoc Prof Dato’ Anhar Opir said his office is studying all evidence received from police and the Selangor Islamic Religious Department, as well as statements from those involved.
“The Selangor Mufti Department is following current developments regarding GISB and related issues, and is proactively curbing the spread of deviant teachings after studying facts and evidence.
“The department upholds the Sultan of Selangor’s order for us to study and see whether GISB’s practices are deviant or go against true Islamic teachings,” he said in a statement.
Yesterday, Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj expressed disappointment over GISB’s activities.
His Royal Highness said religious authorities and police must act against GISB, and shut welfare homes and religious schools under the group that are unregistered or suspected to be involved in syariah crimes.
The ruler also ordered the Selangor State Fatwa Committee to study and decide whether GISB’s practices are deviant or go against true Islamic teachings.
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Police dig up books and documents linked to GISB Holdings buried by a river, with some of them singed, during a raid on three houses believed to be GISB top leaders’ residences, in Kampung Panji, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, on September 21, 2024. — Picture by BERNAMA[/caption]
Yesterday, police rescued 186 victims through Op Global Phase 4, after raiding 82 premises including welfare homes, clinics, religious schools and private residences linked to GISB.
The raid, done in cooperation with the Islamic Religious Development Department and Social Welfare Department saw 155 suspects arrested.
During a raid in Kelantan, police found books containing GISB doctrine buried by a river near the group’s residence in Kampung Panji, Kota Bharu, with some singed, believed to have been burnt to destroy evidence and evade confiscation by authorities.
On September 11, police nabbed 171 people in raids on 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan suspected of exploiting children and religion.
In the operation, 402 children aged one to 17 were rescued and placed at the Kuala Lumpur Police Training Centre.
GISB, which previously denied its links to al-Arqam, also denied the allegations and said the accusations were aimed at inciting prejudices, slander and ill intentions.
