Malaysia imprisons Al-Arqam members

Malaysia imprisons Al-Arqam members

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia said yesterday four former
followers of a banned Islamic sect, Al-Arqam, had been imprisoned
for trying to revive the movement.

The four will be held under the powerful Internal Security Act
(ISA) for at least two years, Bernama news agency reported.

Al-Arqam was founded in 1968 by leader Ashaari Muhammad and
crushed by the authorities in 1994 when Malaysia's Moslem clergy
ruled its teachings to be in conflict with Islam.

The four people imprisoned were identified as Hashim Ahmad,
42; Haji Ahmad Salim Omar, 49; Hasyim Jaafar, 40; and Pahrol Mohd
Goui, 36, a director of a publishing firm.

After the 1994 ban, Ashaari and seven leaders were detained
under the ISA and in October that year Ashaari confessed on
national television to straying from Islamic teachings and
misleading his followers.