By Malaysian authorities have intensified their crackdown on the Islamic Global Ikhwan Group (GISB), a religious organization accused of widespread child abuse and human trafficking. The ongoing investigation has led to hundreds of additional arrests, revealing that criminal activities allegedly continued even after the initial police intervention in September.
The case first gained international attention when police rescued 402 minors suspected of abuse across 20 care homes operated by GISB. Initially, 171 suspects were arrested, including teachers and caretakers. However, as the investigation progressed, the scope of the alleged crimes has expanded significantly.
Recent developments include charges against five GISB members for human trafficking through forced labor. Two managers of a GISB-owned resort in Johor face four counts of human trafficking involving three women and a man aged 30 to 57. Another resort worker was charged with sexually abusing a 16-year-old. These incidents allegedly occurred between August 2023 and October 1, 2024, indicating that criminal activities continued after the initial raids.
The scale of abuse is staggering, with hundreds of victims aged between one and 17 reportedly enduring various forms of mistreatment. Some children were allegedly sodomized by their guardians and forced to perform sexual acts on other children, according to police reports.
GISB’s legal representatives have denied allegations of illegal business activities and organized crime, calling for a “fair investigation.” However, the group’s CEO, Nasiruddin Mohd Ali, previously admitted to “one or two cases of sodomy” at the care homes, a statement that has drawn further scrutiny.
The Malaysian parliament held a special motion to discuss issues related to GISB, where government ministers revealed disturbing findings. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail reported that children as young as two were separated from their families and forced to work under the guise of “practical training.” He also described severe punishments, such as forcing children to perform up to 500 squats for minor infractions.
The ongoing police operation has now resulted in 415 arrests and the rescue of 625 children, according to the Home Minister. The investigation has also taken on an international dimension, with Malaysian authorities seeking assistance from Interpol.
GISB’s extensive network, spanning hundreds of businesses across 20 countries in sectors including hospitality, food, and education, has complicated the investigation. The group’s alleged links to Al-Arqam, a religious sect banned by the Malaysian government in 1994 for deviant Islamic teachings, have also come under scrutiny.
