Malaysia seeks details on detention of 288 alleged Ahmadiyah followers in Sabah

During a media briefing for the International 2026 Majlis Sama’ Jami’ al-Tirmizi and al-Shyamail al-Muhammadiyyah gathering, Minister Zulkifli Hasan stated he must first obtain more information before providing an update on the case involving 288 detainees suspected of adhering to the Ahmadiyah Qadiani faith in Sabah. The detainees were part of a larger sweep that saw roughly 300 people, including 12 senior figures, arrested by the Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS) together with police.

Hasan indicated that the government is strengthening cross-agency collaboration and adopting a whole-government approach to stop the alleged spread of the sect through online platforms and across borders. He emphasized that the matter remains under investigation and that any further developments will be communicated once clarified. The remarks reflect ongoing efforts by Malaysian authorities to address what they describe as “heretical” teachings, though no final legal decisions have been announced.