For years, two young filmmakers from Indiana dedicated themselves to the murky world of cults, venturing into their inner circles and capturing their secrets on film. Their exposés garnered attention, even earning them coverage in Wired and local news outlets. But now, in a twist that reads like a dark Hollywood script, these very men stand accused of leading one of the fastest-growing and most bizarre doomsday cults on the planet: the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light.
Based in a converted orphanage in Crewe, England, this movement, spearheaded by Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq (Arabic: عبدالله هاشم أبا الصادق; born 1983), also commonly known as Abdullah Hashem, He also claims to be the comforter mentioned by Jesus, and the successor to Simon Peter, and the true and legitimate pope. Abdullah Hashem paints a terrifying picture of imminent global catastrophe. Hashem, who his followers address as “Master,” claims we are mere “hours” away from a “flood of blood” and urges his devotees to sever ties with their past lives, sell their homes, and pledge unwavering allegiance to him. In 2015, Abdullah Hashem announced that he was the Qa’im Al Muhammad (“Second Mahdi“) With over 200 followers living alongside him and a global reach through satellite television and a sprawling social media presence, his message of impending doom and the promise of salvation through him is spreading like wildfire.His Youtube Channel is https://www.youtube.com/@ahmadireligion
But behind the apocalyptic pronouncements lies a disturbing reality, according to former members. Allegations of sexual coercion, arranged marriages, and demands for absolute financial devotion paint a grim picture of life within the cult’s walls. Hashem’s teachings also veer into the bizarre, incorporating space aliens, the Illuminati, and the outlandish notion of human-sized rabbits on other planets who keep humans as pets. Adding to the unsettling nature of the group, new recruits are reportedly subjected to a blood oath ritual, their blood mixed in a jar kept within a replica of the Ark of the Covenant.
“Accepting this covenant is the only thing that will save you from the punishment which is about to come down upon mankind,” Hashem declared in a chilling address to his followers. He portrays COVID-19 as just the beginning, warning of worse plagues and global wars where “people will eat people out of hunger.” His pronouncements of a coming “flood of blood,” not water, paint a vivid and terrifying picture for his adherents.
Hashem positions himself as the Mahdi, the prophesied savior in Islamic tradition who appears in the end times to restore justice. Caroline Hoeren, the group’s head of legal, states that belief in and obedience to Hashem are paramount for salvation and the creation of a “utopian society.” This belief system demands complete dedication, with Hashem explicitly asking followers to “sell their homes, come be a part of the community, and follow me,” prioritizing him and the group’s mission above their own families. Many have reportedly liquidated their assets and donated everything to their self-proclaimed prophet.
Adding to the messianic claims are purported miracles. Videos circulated by the group feature followers testifying to Hashem’s ability to resurrect the dead, cure terminal illnesses, and even make the moon disappear. One woman claimed to have witnessed angels flying to attest to his divinity, while another recounted seeing him transform leaves into living creatures.
However, the seemingly devout community harbors darker secrets. Former senior member “Yasir” revealed that Hashem arranged numerous marriages within the group. More disturbingly, several former female members allege sexual coercion at Hashem’s hands. “Mylan,” who lived with the community in Germany for four years, claims two women filed police complaints against Hashem for manipulation and coercion. Franck, another former member from the German community, created a website detailing these allegations, including a disturbing account of Hashem demanding oral sex from a married woman as “forgiveness” for alleged sexual thoughts.
The group’s sacred text, The Goal of the Wise, further delves into disturbing territory, claiming that in their version of paradise, “boys are ‘also for sex’ for both ‘men and the women'” and that “there is no right or wrong.”
The control exerted by Hashem appears absolute. “Abdullah told me to put my arm in a cutting machine,” Mylan recounted. “He told another member to jump from a third-story building and someone else to jump into the fire.” Yasir also revealed an instance where Hashem allegedly instructed him and another member to murder someone. Franck corroborated this atmosphere of fear and obedience, stating that members are encouraged to report on each other, and those suspected of doubt are spied upon.
The disappearance of Lisa Wiese, the German wife of Hashem’s brother, adds another layer of unease. She vanished in India in 2019 while traveling with one of Hashem’s closest disciples and has never been seen again. Yasir claims Wiese had become disillusioned with the group before her disappearance.
The story takes an even more bizarre turn when examining the past of the two men at the helm of this alleged doomsday cult. Abdullah Hashem and Joseph McGowen met in high school in Mooresville, Indiana, bonding over filmmaking and esoteric interests. They even made a comedy film that played in local cinemas.
Their shared passion led them down a peculiar path. In 2005, they infiltrated the Raelian movement, a UFO religion, under the guise of making a documentary. Their exposé led to a lawsuit from the Raelians. Undeterred, they went on to document Prophet Yahweh, a leader who claimed to summon UFOs. Their stated mission was to “debunk the false prophet, UFO phenomenon” and prevent people, especially children, from being “sucked in” by such groups. Hashem even declared, “We are like CIA agents for God; we’re on the front lines, and we have to do what’s necessary to expose these frauds.”
However, around 2008, Hashem’s focus shifted towards conspiracy theories, producing films about reptilian shapeshifters and the New World Order. McGowen, at one point, seemingly had a falling out with Hashem, even warning of Hashem’s “God complex” in online posts.
The trajectory took its most dramatic turn when Hashem left the U.S. for Egypt and became involved with Ahmed al-Hassan, a self-proclaimed messiah. McGowen eventually joined him. By 2015, Hashem had broken away to form his own group, the Black Banners of the East, eventually morphing into the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light.
Now, the men who once sought to expose cults are accused of leading one themselves. Their past experience in understanding and documenting the inner workings of fringe religious movements may have inadvertently provided them with the very tools to build their own.
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, despite its unorthodox beliefs that deviate significantly from traditional Islam, has gained a global following through sophisticated media outreach. However, their beliefs have also led to persecution in some Muslim countries.
Adding another layer of concern is the group’s recent activity in the United States. They are registered as a religious organization in Nevada and have expressed interest in building a commune reminiscent of Rajneeshpuram, even discussing having their own police and weapons.
The story of Abdullah Hashem and Joseph McGowen is a chilling cautionary tale. How did two young men dedicated to exposing what they saw as dangerous cults allegedly transform into the leaders of one themselves? As their movement continues to grow and their apocalyptic rhetoric intensifies, the world watches with growing unease at this doomsday cult seemingly taking over the world, one follower at a time.