Cult News 101 - CultNEWS101 Library

The 'Cult of Jared Leto' controversy: How Hollywood ignored rumors for decades

2026-05-18T10:44:29.494-04:00

MSN: The 'Cult of Jared Leto' controversy: How Hollywood ignored rumors for decades

The article from Front Page Detectives details the escalating controversy surrounding actor and musician Jared Leto, focusing on how Hollywood ignored warning signs about his behavior for decades.
The key points from the summary include:
• The "Cult" Image: For years, Leto (frontman of Thirty Seconds to Mars) leaned into a "cult leader" persona as a marketing tactic. He hosted high-priced annual "Mars Island" fan retreats in Croatia costing up to $6,499, where devotees dressed in matching white clothing, received band tattoos, and engaged in spiritual activities. While originally dismissed by the public as harmless performance art, the imagery has faced severe scrutiny following serious allegations.
• The 2025 Air Mail Investigation: In June 2025, Air Mail published an investigative report featuring testimonies from nine women who accused Leto of sexual misconduct, unsolicited sexual messaging, and predatory behavior at private parties.
• Allegations Involving Minors: Multiple women alleged they were minors when Leto targeted them. The catalyst for the investigation came when DJ and music producer Allie Teilz posted that Leto had assaulted and traumatized her when she was 17. Another woman alleged that in 2006, when she was 16 and didn't even have a driver's license, Leto approached her in Los Angeles, took her number, and initiated late-night sexual phone calls.
• An Open Secret in Hollywood: The article notes that rumors about Leto’s behavior had been an open secret since at least 2005, when Page Six published a piece titled "Jared Leto Likes 'Em Young." However, Hollywood largely ignored the rumors, allowing his eccentric public persona to act as a cover for his behavior.
• Professional Fallout: Unlike past controversies that faded, Leto is experiencing tangible fallout. A film project he was developing, The Talented Dr. Grey, has reportedly been put on hold, and his involvement in Disney’s Tron: Ares remains fluid.
Ultimately, the article concludes that the controversy exposes an industry that gave a powerful celebrity a "very long leash," using his known eccentricity as an alibi to ignore predatory behavior.

https://www.frontpagedetectives.com/p/the-cult-of-jared-leto-controversy-how-hollywood-ignored-rumors-for-decades

Neuroscience News: Harsh Parenting Biologically Distorts Child Stress Regulation

2026-05-15T19:19:18.000-04:00

The study highlighted in the *Neuroscience News* article—which utilizes Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) to track real-time biological "co-regulation" between parents and children—offers profound insights into the psychological and physiological binding mechanisms that occur to **children raised in high-demand cults or coercive isolated groups**.

Cult environments often rely on authoritarian, highly punitive, and emotionally volatile parenting or leadership styles to enforce absolute compliance. Applying the study's findings on "harsh parenting" and "physiological inertia" to the context of high-control groups reveals several key insights into how children are conditioned and psychologically trapped in cults:

### 1. Arrested Independence and Forced Dependency

* **The Study’s Finding:** In healthy environments, a parent's physiological regulation over a child naturally declines as preschoolers grow, allowing the child to develop independent self-regulation. Conversely, harsh, aggressive parenting upends this evolutionary pipeline, causing the child to become *more* dependent on external parental regulation as they age.

* **Cult Insight:** Cults structurally thrive on dependency. This research provides a biological mechanism for how authoritarian cult parenting prevents children from developing autonomy. By continuously subjecting children to high-stress, hostile environments (e.g., severe physical discipline, public shaming, fear of apocalypse or damnation), the child's autonomic nervous system is biologically blocked from transitioning into independent self-regulation. The child remains permanently tethered to the "driver's seat" of the abusive parent or cult leader just to stabilize their own body, fundamentally crippling their ability to conceive of an independent life outside the group.

### 2. "RSA Inertia" and the Prolonged State of Fear

* **The Study’s Finding:** Children exposed to harsh parenting exhibit greater "RSA inertia," meaning that once their fight-or-flight response is triggered, their elevated stress levels take significantly longer to return to baseline. Their stress response becomes rigid and less responsive.

* **Cult Insight:** Children in high-control groups are often kept in a constant state of hypervigilance due to rigid rules, threats of spiritual or physical punishment, and surveillance. Because of "RSA inertia," a child in a cult who is reprimanded or frightened doesn't just calm down when the immediate threat passes; their body stays trapped in a high-stress, physiological panic state for prolonged periods. Over time, this creates a rigid, fragile nervous system that associates any deviation from cult rules with prolonged, agonizing physical distress, making psychological exit or rebellion feel like a biological threat to survival.

### 3. Biological Co-Regulation as a Tool for Trauma Bonding

* **The Study’s Finding:** Young children naturally look to their parents’ physical state to calibrate their own nervous systems. When a parent is volatile, this calibration becomes distorted.

* **Cult Insight:** In a cult, the abusive authority figure is simultaneously the source of the terror and the *only* permissible source of comfort. When a child's nervous system is thrown into chaos by harsh treatment, they are biologically driven to seek co-regulation from the very parent or leader who caused the distress. This physiological loop—where the child must hug, appease, or look to an aggressive captor/parent to physically calm their own heartbeat—is the foundational biological architecture of a **trauma bond**.

**Summary:** This research shows that harsh parenting does not just damage a child's feelings; it **biologically rewires their nervous system to reject independence**.

https://neurosciencenews.com/harsh-parenting-child-stress-30701/

Neo-Nazi 'butcher' gets 15 years for plot to poison Jewish Children in NYC

2026-05-15T18:26:52.034-04:00

**Michail Chkhikvishvili**, a 22-year-old Georgian national and leader of the neo-Nazi group **Maniac Murder Cult** (also known as MKY) who operated online under the alias **“Commander Butcher,”** was sentenced in Brooklyn federal court to **15 years in prison** for plotting mass-casualty attacks against Jews and minorities in New York City.

Key details of the case include:

* **The Poisoned Candy Plot:** Prosecutors revealed that Chkhikvishvili devised a plan to distribute toxic, poison-laced candy to racial minorities and Jewish children in Brooklyn on New Year's Eve. He attempted to recruit an undercover FBI agent to carry out the attack, instructing them to dress up as Santa Claus to distribute the lethal treats.

* **Extradition and Plea:** After being extradited to the United States from Moldova, Chkhikvishvili pleaded guilty to soliciting hate crimes and distributing instructions for making bombs and lethal poisons, including ricin.

* **Extremist Ideology:** As the leader of the Maniac Murder Cult, Chkhikvishvili authored and distributed a manifesto titled the "Hater's Handbook." The text encouraged white supremacists to carry out school shootings and other violent acts to trigger a racial and religious war. Officials noted his online incitement has been linked to multiple violent incidents.

* **Official Statements:** Federal and local officials, including the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York and the NYPD, condemned Chkhikvishvili as a "hate-mongering menace" who specifically targeted vulnerable populations, including children. They credited the swift intervention of federal and local counterterrorism investigators for preventing the mass tragedy.

Psychics & Fraud

2026-05-15T09:37:00.000-04:00

Legislative & Legal Updates

• The "Deceptive Trade Practices" Shift: More jurisdictions are moving away from outdated "fortune telling" bans (which are often challenged on First Amendment grounds) and are instead prosecuting psychics under Consumer Protection Acts. This focuses on the financial harm and the promise of specific results (e.g., "I will return your lover for $5,000") rather than the practice itself.

• Vulnerable Adult Statutes: There is an increasing push to apply "Elder Abuse" or "Vulnerable Adult" enhancements to sentencing in psychic fraud cases. This recognizes that many victims are targeted during periods of intense grief or cognitive decline.

Domestic & True Crime: Recent Patterns
• The "Curse Removal" Scam: This remains the most prevalent high-dollar fraud. Cases often involve "egg cleansing" or "money purification" rituals where the victim is told their cash is "tainted" and must be handed over for a blessing, only for the psychic to disappear.

• Digital Mediumship Fraud: With the rise of social media, "impersonation scams" have spiked. Fraudsters create fake profiles of well-known mediums to solicit "emergency readings" or "cleansing fees" from grieving followers.

• Asset Recovery Hurdles: A major ongoing legal focus is the difficulty of recovering "gifted" assets. Defense attorneys often argue the money was a voluntary gift for spiritual services, making the "intent to defraud" difficult to prove without extensive documentation.
Research & Science
• The "Barnum Effect" in the Digital Age: Recent psychological studies are looking at how AI and algorithms make "Cold Reading" more effective. By gathering data from a victim's social media, a fraudster can make "hits" that seem impossible, creating a deeper psychological bond of trust.

• The Neurobiology of Grief: Research continues to show how the "executive function" of the brain is dampened during acute grief, making otherwise skeptical individuals highly susceptible to magical thinking and high-pressure sales tactics.

"Red Flags to Watch"
• The "Secret" Requirement: If a practitioner tells you not to tell your family or bank about the payments, it is almost certainly fraud.

• The Escalation: Legitimate spiritual services usually have a set fee; scammers always find a "new, darker curse" that requires more money to break.

• The Physical Transfer: Any request to bring physical cash, gold, or gift cards to be "blessed" or "buried" is a major warning sign.

ED cracks down on “illegal” sale of SRMF properties worth crores

2026-05-14T13:01:05.051-04:00

Agency conducts searches in Delhi and Noida in money laundering probe linked to alleged forged documents, fake resolutions and sale of Spiritual Regeneration Movement Foundation lands across multiple States

The Hindu Bureau

Msy 14, 2026

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched search operations against a syndicate accused of forging documents and impersonating office-bearers to allegedly sell prime properties belonging to the Spiritual Regeneration Movement Foundation of India (SRMF), the agency said on Thursday (May 14, 2026).

The case involves land transactions allegedly worth hundreds of crores. The agency initiated the investigation on May 7 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and is now focusing on key conspirators.

“The ED’s preliminary investigations have identified G. Ram Chandra Mohan and Akash Malviya as the principal suspects and alleged masterminds behind the elaborate conspiracy. Despite being previously arrested in FIR No. 328/2011 in Chhattisgarh, he (Mr. Mohan) continued his unlawful activities in active connivance with associates,” the agency said.

The ED conducted searches at the premises of Mr. Mohan and Mr. Malviya in Delhi’s Narayan Vihar, and at the premises of one Ram Shyam in Burari. Searches were also carried out at Singhvahini Infra Projects Private Limited in Sector 100 of Noida in Uttar Pradesh and at the residence of its associate, Pradeep Singh, in Sector 105, Noida.

SRMF, a society registered in 1963 under the Societies Registration Act and linked to the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, owns substantial immovable properties across multiple States.

“However, a group of accused persons allegedly used forged authority letters, fabricated resolutions, and fake seals to illegally sell these lands,” the agency alleged.

In one case reported in December 2025, a 3.3610-hectare parcel of land in Gejha Tilpatabad village in Noida was allegedly sold fraudulently by Mr. Malviya using a fictitious entity with an identical name, “The Spiritual Regeneration Movement Foundation of India”, to Singhvahini Infra Projects Private Limited for a declared consideration of ₹16 crore, far below the circle rate of ₹33.61 crore, according to the ED.

At least seven FIRs have been registered in Noida in Uttar Pradesh, Dhar and Shajapur in Madhya Pradesh, and Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh.

In another case in Noida, the same land was allegedly sold again in January 2026 to Vaam Dev Private Limited. The agency alleged that the accused executed a ₹3.48-crore sale using a fake board resolution.

The ED further alleged that 39.96 hectares of land were “illegally” sold in Shajapur, while in Bilaspur, 75 acres were sold through eight “fake” sale deeds in alleged conspiracy with revenue officials.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ed-cracks-down-on-illegal-sale-of-srmf-properties-worth-crores/article70978633.ece?hl=en-US

Gen Z’s "discovery" of Scientology

2026-05-14T10:02:45.000-04:00

Gen Z’s "discovery" of Scientology is often viewed through the lens of social media irony, it has evolved into a chaotic mix of viral stunts, digital activism, and heightened security measures at Scientology centers across the country.

The "Scientology Speedrunning" Trend
The most visible interaction Gen Z has with the organization is a 2026 viral trend known as Scientology Speedrunning (or "Scientology Runs").

• The Concept: Drawing from video game culture, participants film themselves sprinting into Church of Scientology buildings—most notably the Information Center on Hollywood Boulevard—to see how deep they can get before being intercepted by staff.

• Viral Mechanics: These clips are often set to high-energy music and edited to look like an "infiltration mission."

• The Reaction: The trend has led to real-world consequences. In April 2026, the Hollywood location famously removed its exterior door handles to prevent "raids." By May 2026, police in New York City, San Diego, and Brisbane had responded to coordinated group attempts to enter facilities.

Post-Irony and Activism
For many Gen Z creators, the interest isn't just about the "meme" of Tom Cruise or Xenu; it’s a form of decentralized, chaotic activism.

• Anti-Recruitment: Many creators use TikTok and Instagram to "live-stream" the famous "Free Personality Test" (the Oxford Capacity Analysis) to mock the results in real-time, effectively "de-mystifying" the recruitment process for their followers.

• Exposing Tactics: Creators often film their interactions with "Sea Org" members to highlight what they describe as "stilted" or "rehearsed" behavior, using the organization's own secrecy as a catalyst for engagement.

The Institutional Pushback
The Church of Scientology has responded aggressively to this new wave of attention:

• Legal Action: Officials have labeled the speedrunning trend as "organized trespass" and "harassment," with some incidents being investigated as potential hate crimes.

• Indoctrination Defense: Critics, including journalist Yashar Ali, note that these stunts may inadvertently help the organization’s internal narrative by proving to members that the outside world is "hostile and violent."

Comparison of Perspectives

Viewpoint
Stance on Gen Z "Discovery"

Participants
A "fun," harmless way to troll a controversial organization and gain views.

Anti-Cult Activists
Divided; some see it as effective disruption, others see it as immature and dangerous.

Church Officials
An illegal, coordinated campaign of religious harassment and property damage.

Follower of alleged cult leader is charged with threatening FBI, prosecutors

2026-05-14T09:45:42.539-04:00

Makeda Charles now faces criminal charges for seeking to derail the case against David E. Taylor, who allegedly ran a forced labor call center out of Nelly’s Wildwood mansion.

Ryan Krull

St Louis Magazine

May 14, 2026

The latest twist in the criminal case against alleged cult leader David E. Taylor is a wild one, even by the standards of the bizarre saga surrounding the self-described “apostle,” whose organization operated 24/7 prayer call centers out of luxury properties around the country, including in Chesterfield and Wildwood.

Last week, charges against 36-year-old Makeda Charles, described as a “long-time follower” of Taylor’s Kingdom of God Global Church, were unsealed in Michigan. According to the criminal complaint, Charles sent emails and text messages to an FBI special agent, a federal prosecutor, and a federal judge, threatening harm if the case against Taylor continued. The threatening communiques dated back to at least January 2025 but intensified in tone and frequency last month, according to an FBI affidavit.

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In January of last year, according to that affidavit, Charles texted an FBI special agent a photo of herself holding a rifle in front of towering flames. Included with the photo was a text message saying, “You’ll get one bullet and be shot dead if you try that shit again, and General David E. Taylor can choke you to death or pistol beat you to death.” Notably, that threat predated any criminal charges against Taylor, whose indictment was made public in August 2025.

The pattern of unhinged threats escalated last month. In the course of a few days in April, Charles sent a fax to a U.S. District judge, presumably to the one overseeing the Taylor’s Michigan case, accusing the judge of engaging in human trafficking and “ethnic intimidation.” The next day, she emailed the judge and federal prosecutor saying, “There is a hit on your life.”

The very next day after that she emailed the same individuals again, writing, “Don’t fuck with His excellency General David E Taylor and God’s money, your life will be robbed and you and all your bloody family be together in hell forever.” She also offered to have herself taken to the jail with Taylor, asking to be put in a “couples psych ward” with him. Charles was arrested last week, although she appears unlikely to get her wish when it comes to that placement.

Taylor has, however, been in jail since his indictment. The charges against his acolyte come amid new court filings in the criminal case against him that suggest how the preacher whose visage long adorned a billboard opposite Lambert Airport may have first gotten on the FBI’s radar.

He and two others are alleged to have run the Kingdom of God Global Church as a forced labor conspiracy, exploiting followers to work grueling hours in call centers across the country, soliciting donations from people who called into a 24/7 “dream interpretation” hotline. Those hotlines were operated out of call centers in multiple states, including several in West St. Louis County, where members rarely left. (A Wildwood mansion previously belonging to rapper Nelly was just one of the sites.) Prosecutors say members who failed to meet aggressive quotas were punished through food and sleep deprivation, humiliation and threats of “divine punishment.”

Taylor, along with his top lieutenant, Michelle Brannon, were indicted in Michigan in August of last year. A third person, Kathleen Klein, who also went by “Prophetess” was charged as part of the forced labor conspiracy in February.

There was certainly no shortage of red flags surrounding Taylor’s operations. In 2022, neighbors of one house owned by his church in Chesterfield, on Wildhorse Meadow Drive, suspected it was being used as a call center.

But new court filings in the criminal case indicate that the FBI was being contacted as early as 2024 by people concerned that their elderly and coginitvely-impaired family members were sending large sums of money to Taylor. An FBI document dated January 2024 memorializes an interview an agent conducted with an elderly woman who had been referred to the agency as a “potential financial fraud victim.”

The elderly woman, identified only as K.W., had made multiple large wire transfers to the Kingdom of God Global Church, totalling $263,400. She attempted at one point to send more money, but a bank teller refused to facilitate the transaction. The FBI form states that K.W. had received the money she sent to Taylor from a settlement and that she’d initially reached out to to the church, which operated a 24/7 hotline, because she was suicidal. The woman’s husband, who also spoke to the agent, said that his wife has many medical issues and had been “completely taken advantage of” and “manipulated” by the church.

Even after the federal charges against Taylor were made public, FBI agents continued to encounter elderly followers of Taylor eager to send their money to him. An FBI interview with a 79-year-old showed that she donated $10,000 to Taylor’s church the month after the indictment was unsealed. She said she was told the money would go toward building a school. She indicated she would be OK if some of the money went toward Taylor’s legal defense, “but not all of it.”

Court filings in the case also state that agents have uncovered recordings of the calls that came into the church’s call centers and these recordings show that some of the “donors” display a “level of cognition of the donor is notably concerning.”

Taylor and Brannon had originally been represented in the case by noted St. Louis criminal defense attorneys Scott Rosenblum and John Rogers, respectively. However Rosenblum’s firm exited the case in April, with Rogers withdrawing last week. Both Taylor and Brannon are now represented by a firm out of the Detroit metropolitan area.

The evidence in the case is reportedly massive, including thousands of pages of financial records, 14,000 pages of FBI reports and other documents, and 46 GB of data, including from software used by churches to track donations as well as from Taylor’s iCloud.

https://www.stlmag.com/news/david-taylor-nelly-wildwood-makeda-charles/

Maniac Murder Cult

2026-05-14T09:25:27.364-04:00

Michail Chkhikvishvili, a 22-year-old Georgian national known as "Commander Butcher," was sentenced on May 13, 2026, to 15 years in prison in a Brooklyn federal court.

Chkhikvishvili was a leader of the Maniac Murder Cult (MKY) , an international neo-Nazi extremist group. Here are the key details from the case:

The Crimes & Sentencing
• Solicitation of Violence: Chkhikvishvili pleaded guilty in November 2025 to soliciting hate crimes and distributing instructions for making bombs and ricin.
• The Plot: Prosecutors revealed a horrific scheme to carry out a mass-casualty attack in New York City. Chkhikvishvili attempted to recruit an undercover agent to dress as Santa Claus on New Year’s Eve and distribute poisoned candy to Jewish and minority children in Brooklyn.
• Ideology: The group adheres to "accelerationism," a neo-Nazi ideology that seeks to trigger a racial and religious war through extreme violence and social collapse. Chkhikvishvili authored a manifesto called the "Hater’s Handbook," which encouraged mass murder and ethnic cleansing.

Connection to Real-World Violence
Authorities noted that Chkhikvishvili’s online rhetoric and recruitment efforts on platforms like Telegram were linked to actual acts of violence. Specifically, the group’s influence was cited as an inspiration for multiple real-life attacks, including a school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, the previous year that resulted in the death of a 16-year-old student.

Background
Chkhikvishvili traveled to Brooklyn in 2022 to scout locations for attacks. He was eventually arrested in Moldova in 2024 on an international warrant and extradited to the United States in May 2025. During the sentencing, Chkhikvishvili claimed he was "ashamed" of his actions, while his defense attorneys argued he had been radicalized as a teenager and suffered from mental health struggles.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. described the defendant as a "hate-mongering menace" and stated that the 15-year sentence "takes a monster off our streets."

Cults In The News - May 14, 2026

2026-05-14T08:50:49.000-04:00

International News

• Kenya Shakahola Forest Investigation: Authorities continue to manage the aftermath of the doomsday cult led by Paul Mackenzie. The death toll has surpassed 200, with many victims linked to forced starvation. Government officials have compared the group's actions to domestic terrorism.

• Unification Church (Japan): Legal proceedings are intensifying as the Japanese government seeks a court order to dissolve the church’s status as a religious corporation. This follows long-standing investigations into "spiritual sales" and the group's political influence after the assassination of Shinzo Abe.

• Malaysia & Fiji: Recent reports detail the deportation of "Grace Road Cult" members from Fiji back to South Korea following allegations of ritualistic violence. Meanwhile, in Malaysia, dozens of individuals associated with a local group face charges linked to organized crime and child abuse.

Domestic & True Crime Updates

• Southern California Prosecution: Members of the "His Way Spirit Led Assemblies" in the Inland Empire recently appeared in court. Former members have testified about years of starvation and torture, with leaders facing charges including murder.

• The "Zizians" Group: Investigations are ongoing into a radical vegan group known as the Zizians, which has been linked to several deaths. Trial proceedings have highlighted the group’s high-control dynamics and the challenges witnesses face due to psychological trauma.

• Scientology "Raids": A viral social media trend involving "speed runs" or "raids" on Scientology buildings has prompted the organization to increase security measures in Los Angeles and other major cities.

Culture & Media

• Opera Philadelphia: The U.S. premiere of The Listeners by Missy Mazzoli recently explored the psychological allure of high-control groups, reflecting a continued public fascination with how these organizations recruit and maintain power.

• Historical Context: With the 50th anniversary of the Jonestown massacre approaching in a few years, survivors and journalists are increasingly speaking out about the "cult typology" in media and the warning signs of modern-day extremist groups.

Beyond these headlines, many smaller groups—often described as "under the radar"—continue to face scrutiny for child labor violations and financial exploitation in rural communities across the U.S.

Call for Participants: Survival & Recovery in Victim-Survivors of Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse.

2026-05-13T06:34:39.456-04:00

Call for Participants: Survival & Recovery in Victim-Survivors of Adult Clergy Sexual Abuse. Your story can help shape a better understanding of clergy abuse and contribute to trauma-informed change in faith spaces!

Have you experienced sexual grooming, sexual abuse, or sexual coercion by a Christian faith leader when you were age 16 or older?

You are invited to participate in a confidential research study exploring survival, recovery and growth following clergy sexual abuse.

This research study invites English-speaking adults worldwide to share their experiences anonymously via an online survey (45–60 minutes).

For people subjected to abuse in Australia, there is also an option to participate in a confidential interview.

✅ Must be 18+

✅ Must have been 16+ at the time of the abuse (or if abused continued after age 16).

✅ Your experience must involve a Christian faith leader of any Christian faith denomination.

You will have the opportunity to describe your experience in your own words, using language that feels right to you. Scan the QR code in the image below to find out more.Or click on the links shared in the comments.

For further information, please email: Jaime.Simpson@uon.edu.au

****************************

Important privacy notice:

Please note that if you like, share, or comment on this post, your activity may be visible to others or appear on your own or others’ social media feeds.

If you would like to share, please turn off commenting if your platform allows it.

Please note that, due to confidentiality, communication from the researcher will occur only via university email. Direct messaging via social media will not be used.

This study has been approved by the University of Newcastle Human Research Ethics Committee Approval No. H-2025-0335.

CultNEWS101 Articles: 5/1/2026

2026-05-11T09:53:45.492-04:00

Honoring Strength on Cult Recovery Day

Today, we observe **Cult Recovery Day**—a time to recognize the immense courage it takes to reclaim one's life, identity, and autonomy. Healing is not a linear path, but it is one paved with resilience.

We honor the survivors, the families who never stopped searching for answers, and the dedicated professionals working to provide a safe harbor for those finding their way back.

Why Today Matters:

Raising Awareness: Shining a light on the dynamics of coercive control to help others spot the signs early.
Building Community: Reminding survivors that they are not alone and that a life of freedom is possible.
Advocating for Change: Promoting education and resources that empower individuals to heal and thrive.
To everyone on this journey: Your voice matters, your story is yours again, and your strength is remarkable.

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CultNEWS101 Articles: 5/11/2026

2026-05-11T09:45:18.782-04:00

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, FLDS, Scientology

The Telegraph: The ‘Temple of Doom cult’ terrifying residents of Crewe

"...The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL), who dress all in black and wear beanie hats as “religious head coverings”, is led by Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, a 42-year-old Egyptian-American, who believes he is “the riser” and the self-proclaimed “saviour of mankind”.

But it’s the group’s military-style marches, hovering drones and robot guard dogs have alarmed his neighbours on Victoria Avenue in Crewe.

The married father of four has also said he is the successor to Jesus and his followers believe he can make the moon disappear.

Aliens control US presidents

Members of the sect also believe that George Washington was Adam Weishaupt, who is believed to be the founder of the Illuminati, and that a race of aliens known as “Shfar” control US presidents and world leaders.

The sect’s gospel suggests that George Bush Snr is a “shapeshifting extraterrestrial” who is “under control”.

Bizarre scripture also discusses a planet called Al-Aroos where rabbits are the size of bears while followers have told of Hashem’s “miracles” including bringing a woman in Germany back from the dead and healing blind people.

The sect has been described as a “cult” and on Wednesday 10 people from eight different countries were arrested after a raid involving more than 500 officers from four police forces as part of an investigation into alleged modern slavery."

Rolling Stone: She Survived the FLDS Cult. Now, She’s Healing Through Music

Naomi “Nomz” Bistline was one of Samuel Bateman’s 23 “spiritual wives” — but after a stint in prison, she’s coping with her past, one song at a time.

"Bistline was in a Texas prison serving a 21-month sentence for unlawfully removing minors from state custody — a crime she committed under the direction of Sam Bateman. Bateman is the leader of a small offshoot sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS) who claims to be a prophet and the heir apparent to Warren Jeffs, the FLDS president who is currently serving life in prison for child sexual assault.

Bistline was the 13th of Bateman’s 23 “spiritual wives” — nine of which were girls as young as nine, and all of whom he sexually abused. After living a sheltered life in a secluded town, followed by a stint in prison, Bistline now finds herself in the public eye, thanks to Netflix’s new docuseries Trust Me: The False Prophet. It tells the story of Christine Marie, PhD — an expert in cult psychology who infiltrated Bateman’s group posing as a documentary filmmaker, ultimately taking him down using footage as evidence against him — and the women like Bistline whom she helped to set free."

ABC7: Video shows mob ransacking Church of Scientology in Midtown

"Detectives are reviewing video after a large group of young people stormed and ransacked parts of the Church of Scientology in Midtown Manhattan on Saturday afternoon, an incident the church described as a coordinated attack.

The video, captured around 4:30 p.m., shows a crowd moving through Midtown and near East 46th Street, where police say the group broke into the church during a seminar."

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

CultMediation.com

Intervention101.com to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.

CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families in making the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.

CultNEWS101.com news, links, resources about: cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations, and related topics.

The selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not imply endorsement of the content by Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly. We provide information from multiple perspectives to foster dialogue.

Remembering the "Satanic Panic"

2026-05-11T09:42:52.291-04:00

The recent death of psychiatrist Bennett Braun at age 83 has resurfaced the damaging legacy of the "Satanic Panic" era, reports the New York Times.

The Actions: Braun, based in Chicago, was known for diagnosing patients with suppressed memories of horrific, cult-driven torture—memories that were largely fabricated through unethical therapy techniques.

The Aftermath: Braun lost his medical license after it was determined he engaged in unethical treatment that destroyed lives, serving as a cautionary tale on the dangers of manufactured cult hysteria.

The Satanic Panic was a widespread moral panic in North America and parts of Europe from the early 1980s to mid-1990s, characterized by unsubstantiated allegations of widespread Satanic ritual abuse (SRA). Fueled by fear and questionable "recovered-memory" therapy, it led to false accusations against daycare workers, teachers, and individuals, resulting in ruined lives, wrongful convictions, and hysteria over pop culture like heavy metal and Dungeons & Dragons. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Key Aspects of the Satanic Panic

Origins: Initiated in 1980 by the book Michelle Remembers, which detailed claims of childhood abuse by a Satanic cult through recovered-memory therapy, a technique now largely discredited.

Daycare Scandals: Accusations focused on daycare centers, most notably the 1983–1990 McMartin Preschool case in California, the longest and most expensive criminal trial in US history, which ended with no convictions.

Moral Panic Traits: Sociologists identify it as a moral panic where false accusations stemmed from cultural fears rather than evidence. Over 12,000 unsubstantiated cases of ritual abuse were reported during this time.

Cultural Impact: The panic spurred unfounded fears that pop culture, including Dungeons & Dragons, heavy metal music, and cartoons, were corrupting youth and promoting devil worship.

Legacy: The panic faded in the mid-1990s but left a legacy of wrongful convictions and ruined reputations. Elements of the panic have resurfaced in modern conspiracy theories like QAnon, which similarly allege child exploitation by a shadowy elite.

Modern Echoes: A 2025 analysis suggests a new "Satanic Panic" has emerged, utilizing similar rhetoric to attack LGBTQ+ visibility, gender-affirming care, and education, labelling proponents as "groomers". [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]

By the mid-1990s, investigations, including a 1995 report presented to the National Institute of Justice, found that evidence for organized Satanic cult abuse was "scant to non-existent". [1]

Recover News

2026-05-07T08:20:15.562-04:00

New Publications & Media

Book Release: The Oracle's Daughter: The Rise and Fall of an American Cult by Harrison Hill is receiving significant attention today. The book details the history of the Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps, a group founded in the 1970s that utilized extreme physical and mental isolation. Hill is currently discussing the unique challenges of "digital-age isolation" and how modern groups are adapting to an ultra-connected world.

Media Discussion: Ongoing features on the "Cult of Vulnerability" continue to trend, exploring how modern therapeutic language is sometimes used to establish control within religious and communal organizations.

Legislative & Legal Updates

Canada (Bill C-223): The Canadian Parliament is currently debating the Keeping Children Safe Act, which specifically aims to integrate an "evidence-based understanding of coercive control" into family law. The bill addresses how trauma and abuse dynamics should outweigh traditional assumptions about child-parent contact in cases where alienation is alleged.

Australia (New South Wales): New legislation was introduced this week (the Crimes Amendment Bill 2026) targeting the "criminal misuse of tracking devices" and the weaponization of technology in stalking. This is being hailed as a landmark move to close legal loopholes often used by high-control perpetrators to monitor victims covertly.

Surrey Sentencing: A significant case concluded in the UK this week where a perpetrator was sentenced to prison for a "prolonged campaign of emotional and financial abuse." The court's ruling emphasized that coercive controlling behavior (CCB) is being more robustly prosecuted as a standalone criminal offense.

Research & Academic Updates

University of Groningen Study: Researchers in the Netherlands have issued a new call for participants for a study exploring the long-term social and emotional consequences of leaving high-control religious movements.

Neurobiology Focus: New workshops have been announced for later this year focusing on the neurobiology of sexual abuse within cults, specifically looking at how high-control environments impact the nervous system and how body-based therapies can assist in rebuilding a sense of agency.

Study Days: Faith, Religious Bigotry and Manipulation

2026-05-07T07:37:34.807-04:00

Study Days: Faith, Religious Bigotry and Manipulation.

The Valdese Faculty of Theology proposes a moment of theological reflection to analyze the delicate boundary between the experience of faith and the dynamics of manipulation.

Through a multidisciplinary approach involving theology, social psychology, and law, the course explores the theme of spiritual abuse and bigotry, offering tools to understand and respond to these contemporary challenges.

This is a study opportunity open to anyone who wants to deepen the dynamics of religious relationships today.

➡️ Where: In person in Rome (Room B, via Pietro Cossa 42) or online on the ZOOM platform.

➡️When: The 22nd and 23rd of May 2026

➡️Registration deadline: before May 18, 2026.

➡️Costs: €60 listeners; €30 LSBT students; Free for LT/LST students.

➡️Credits: The event entitles 4 CFUs (replacing the LSBT Intensive Session).

➡️For reservations: Contact the secretary at segreteria@facoltavaldese.org .

Giornate di Studio: Fede, Fanatismo Religioso e Manipolazione.

lL Facoltà Valdese di Teologia propone un momento di riflessione teologica per analizzare il delicato confine tra l'esperienza della fede e le dinamiche di manipolazione.

Attraverso un approccio multidisciplinare che coinvolge teologia, psicologia sociale e diritto, il corso esplora il tema dell’abuso spirituale e del fanatismo, offrendo strumenti per comprendere e rispondere a queste sfide contemporanee.

E' un’occasione di studio aperta a chiunque voglia approfondire le dinamiche delle relazioni religiose oggi.

➡️ Dove: In presenza a Roma (Aula B, via Pietro Cossa 42) oppure online su piattaforma ZOOM.

➡️Quando: Il 22 e 23 Maggio 2026

➡️Scadenza iscrizioni: entro il 18 Maggio 2026.

➡️Costi: 60 € uditori; 30 € studenti LSBT; Gratuito per studenti LT/LST.

➡️Crediti: L'evento dà diritto a 4 CFU (in sostituzione della Sessione intensiva LSBT).

➡️Per prenotazioni: Contattare la segreteria all'indirizzo segreteria@facoltavaldese.org.

Cults & High-Control Groups News

2026-05-06T20:03:43.105-04:00

Cults & High-Control Groups News

Date: May 6, 2026

Edition: Late April / Early May Report

The world of high-control groups and "cult" movements has seen significant legal and social developments over the past 10 days. From police raids in Southeast Asia to landmark legal rulings, here is the essential update.

1. Major Raid: "Black Magic" Encampment in Thailand

In a story that has gripped international headlines over the last week, Thai authorities conducted a massive raid on a remote forest encampment.

The Incident: Investigators discovered a group practicing "corpse meditation," where followers were encouraged to meditate alongside human remains to achieve "clairvoyance."

The Fallout: Over a dozen sets of remains were recovered. The leader, a self-proclaimed "spiritual master," is currently facing charges related to the illegal handling of bodies and operating an unregistered cult.

2. Legal Precedent: Catholic Church Liability Ruling

A significant legal development occurred on April 30, 2026, that is reverberating through discussions of institutional accountability.

The Ruling: High courts have issued a landmark decision regarding the "duty of care" religious institutions owe to those in their charge.

The Impact: This ruling makes it easier for survivors of abuse within religious sects and high-control groups to sue parent organizations, even if the specific perpetrators were not "directly employed" in a traditional sense. Advocacy groups are calling this a "death knell" for the legal shields often used by secretive organizations.

3. Global Updates & Investigations

Papua New Guinea: On May 5, 2026, police in the North Fly District confirmed the arrest of three individuals for "cult activities." The group, operating under the guise of a Christian ministry, allegedly used animal bones and "deceitful magic" to manipulate villagers, leading to violent clashes.

Australia: University campuses in Sydney and Melbourne have issued fresh warnings this week regarding Shincheonji, a Korean doomsday group. Former members are actively lobbying the government for stricter "coercive control" laws to prevent the deceptive recruitment of students on dating apps and at Bible studies.

North Korea Analysis: A new historical study released this week has sparked debate among sociologists, claiming the North Korean "personality cult" was structurally modeled after 19th-century missionary movements, using religious architecture to enforce state loyalty.

4. Ongoing Trials: The Shakahola Massacre

The trial of Paul Nthenge Mackenzie continues to move through the Kenyan court system.

The Context: Mackenzie is accused of inciting over 400 followers to starve themselves to death to "meet Jesus."

Recent News: New witness testimony provided over the last few days has detailed the "enforcer" wings of the cult, which allegedly used physical force to prevent followers from breaking their fasts, further complicating the "voluntary" defense used by the leadership.

Resource Spotlight: "Children of the Cult"

A new documentary and accompanying memoir by survivor Sarito Carroll have gained significant traction on streaming platforms this week. It explores the lasting psychological impact on children raised in the Osho Rajneesh communes, sparking a global conversation about the rights of children born into high-control environments.

Safety Note: If you or someone you know is concerned about a group’s recruitment tactics or a high-control environment, resources such as the International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) offer confidential support and educational materials.

Stay Informed. Stay Vigilant.

Unification Church Raided in Han Hak-ja Embezzlement Probe

2026-05-06T19:38:29.532-04:00

Park Hye-yeon

Chosun

May 6. 2025

The Religion-Government Collusion Prosecutors-Police Joint Investigation Headquarters launched a search and seizure on the 6th regarding allegations of embezzlement by Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, targeting Unification Church facilities and other locations.

The task force dispatched investigators to the Unification Church’s Cheon Jeong Gung, Seoul headquarters, Hyojung Global Unification Foundation, and the residences of church officials, including Han, from the morning to secure relevant materials.

The search and seizure warrants were found to list Unification Church officials, including Han, as suspects in the embezzlement case. The task force is investigating allegations of occupational embezzlement at the Unification Church level. Previously, the task force executed search and seizure warrants twice on Unification Church facilities in January regarding similar allegations. This marks the first time the task force has conducted a forced investigation into Han’s alleged embezzlement.

The task force is examining whether internal funds of the Unification Church were systematically misappropriated to create slush funds for Han. Based on the accounting records and internal documents secured on the day, the task force plans to comprehensively analyze the fund flow and the denomination’s operational structure.

https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2026/05/06/SESQG5ME6JG7FM5BFVSFZ6V7LA/

2026 ICSA Conference

2026-05-06T19:18:52.607-04:00

Did you know that with an ICSA membership you can get special prices for the 2026 ICSA Conference?

This is just one of the benefits of becoming an ICSA member:

🎟️ Reduced rates on select events

🔒 Access to members-only content and webinars

📇 Inclusion in the Service Provider Directory

🤝 Opportunities to engage with a global network of researchers, professionals, and survivors

And one of the most important benefits: your support makes our work possible.

ICSA is an independent nonprofit that receives no government funding. Our work is sustained by the generosity of members and donors. Each year, ICSA reaches over 150,000 people — providing research, resources, and support to individuals, families, and professionals worldwide.

We are incredibly grateful to our membership community, whose support enables us to publish research, convene conferences, and develop recovery and professional training resources.

Become a member today and help us continue this work: https://buff.ly/iBVp8mK

#CoerciveControl #CulticStudies #CultAwareness

CultNEWS101 Articles: 5/6/2026

2026-05-06T03:00:00.000-04:00

LDS, Existential Distress, Janja Lalich

Hoodline: New Christofferson Accuser Shakes Up Salt Lake LDS Circles

"A new woman has stepped forward in Salt Lake City, saying Wade Christofferson abused her when she was a teenager and that she reported the conduct to her Latter-day Saint bishop at the time. Christofferson is the brother of LDS Apostle D. Todd Christofferson, and the church has now issued a statement spelling out what the apostle knew and when. Her account is emerging as part of a broader federal case that first surfaced last fall.

The woman told reporters she went to her bishop in her youth to disclose the alleged abuse. Despite that, she says, Wade Christofferson later served in a bishopric and in other church callings. She explains that she chose to go public only after learning there were additional alleged victims. Her account is detailed by The Salt Lake Tribune."

Psychology Today: Is Real and Increasingly Common

Catching up to a psychological concern that most clinical discourses miss.

"...We are living in an existentially intense time. Artificial intelligence is making many question what makes humans irreplaceable. Others find themselves disoriented by a sea of misinformation that is corroding trust in communication, social media, knowledge, and science itself. Some are sitting with ongoing wars, rising political tensions, and an ecological crisis whose scale resists comprehension. These phenomena reflect a breakdown of meaning, relationship, and ways of being in the world together, rather than individual psychopathology.

The 2023 article "Existential Issues in Psychotherapy," published in Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, frames it for clinicians directly.1 Existential issues, which are psychological concerns related to death, meaning or meaninglessness, choice, responsibility, identity, and connection or isolation, are common across diverse healthcare populations and clinical settings. The authors remind clinicians of the value of recognizing and addressing such concerns rather than collapsing them into adjacent diagnoses.

Existential distress is real

The clinical research is, in many ways, only beginning to catch up with what these conditions are producing in real lives."

This is Your Brain: Tell-Tale Signs That You Are in a Cult – Janja Lalich

"Cults and high-control groups influence beliefs and fundamentally reshape identity, decision-making, and autonomy. In this episode, Dr. Phil Stieg sits down with sociologist and cult expert Dr. Janja Lalich, Professor and author of Take Back Your Life, to explore the psychology behind cults. Drawing from decades of research as well as her own personal experience of spending a decade in a political cult, she discusses how indoctrination alters a person’s sense of self, why anyone can become vulnerable under the right circumstances, and the road to recovery after leaving."

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

CultMediation.com

Intervention101.com to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.

CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.

CultNEWS101.com news, links, resources about: cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations, and related topics.

The selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not imply that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly endorse the content. We provide information from multiple perspectives to foster dialogue.

Spiritual Bypassing

2026-05-04T08:35:00.001-04:00

Spiritual bypassing is a term first coined by psychologist John Welwood in the 1980s. It describes the tendency to use spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep or "bypass" unresolved emotional issues, psychological wounds, and fundamental human needs.

It’s a "premature transcendence"—trying to rise above the messy, painful parts of being human before we’ve actually dealt with them.

Common Signs of Spiritual Bypassing

Exaggerated Detachment:

Using "it’s all an illusion" or "non-attachment" to avoid feeling genuine grief, anger, or hurt.

Toxic Positivity: The belief that one should always be "high vibe" or that "everything happens for a reason," which silences healthy venting or necessary boundaries.

Over-Spiritualizing Responsibility: Claiming "I attracted this with my thoughts" or "it’s their karma," which can shift focus away from addressing actual harm or systemic issues.

The "Spiritual Ego": Feeling superior to others who are "unawakened" or "stuck in their ego."

In the Context of High-Demand Groups, spiritual bypass is often a foundational tool for manipulation. In these environments, it takes on a more predatory edge:

Weaponized "Inner Jihad": Much like the concepts you've explored regarding the struggle against the ego, groups may use the idea of "killing the self" to force members to ignore their own intuition or survival instincts.

Dismissing Trauma: When a member raises a concern about abuse or financial exploitation, leadership may frame their complaint as "a lack of surrender" or "attachment to the material world."

Performative Spirituality: You’ve previously noted how spiritual practices can become social signaling. In high-demand groups, "looking" spiritual becomes a requirement for safety and status within the community, effectively masking deep psychological distress.

Why It’s Dangerous

The danger isn't the spirituality itself, but the dissociation it encourages. By labeling "negative" emotions as unspiritual, a person loses the ability to set boundaries. If you can’t feel anger, you can’t protect yourself; if you can't feel sadness, you can't heal.

Cults In The News

2026-05-04T08:35:00.000-04:00

The last week of April and the beginning of May 2026 have seen several significant legal and media developments regarding high-demand groups and controversial movements.

### **Major Police Raid in Crewe, UK**

On Wednesday, April 29, 2026, approximately **500 police officers** conducted a massive raid on the headquarters of the **Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light** in Crewe, Cheshire.

* **The Charges:** Authorities are investigating allegations of serious sexual offenses, modern-day slavery, and forced marriage.

* **Arrests:** Nine individuals—including citizens from the US, Mexico, and Egypt—were taken into custody. This follows a March 2026 complaint from a former member who alleged she was raped and abused at the group’s headquarters (a former orphanage) in 2023.

* **Context:** The group is distinct from the Ahmadiyya Muslim community and has previously been under scrutiny regarding skilled worker visa usage.

### **New Docuseries: "The Cult of NatureBoy"**

ABC News Studios released a new docuseries on April 29, 2026, focusing on **Eligio Bishop** (known as "NatureBoy") and his group, **CarbonNation**.

* **The Story:** The series explores how Bishop used social media to recruit followers into what he termed a "utopia" in metro Atlanta.

* **Legal Status:** Though the series is new, it highlights the 2024 sentencing of Bishop to life without parole for crimes including rape and false imprisonment. It features new testimony from victims who joined the group while struggling with depression and family issues.

### **Ongoing Focus on the FLDS and Samuel Bateman**

Netflix recently released "Trust Me: The False Prophet," which has brought renewed attention to the **Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS)** splinter group led by **Samuel Bateman**.

* **Latest Updates:** As of mid-April and continuing through last week, news outlets have focused on how Bateman continues to exert control over his followers and multiple wives from behind bars.

* **Naomi "Nomz" Bistline:** A former wife of Bateman has been active in the media over the last few weeks, warning that the "nightmare" of coercive control can happen to anyone and detailing Bateman’s rise following the power vacuum left by Warren Jeffs.

### **"Greggy’s Cult" Legal Proceedings**

Updates continue regarding the federal case against five leaders of an online group known as **"Greggy's Cult."**

* **The Case:** The FBI and U.S. Attorneys have characterized the group as a "nightmare platform" used to exploit and harass minors.

* **Recent Activity:** While the initial charges were filed late last year, the case has remained in the headlines this past week as federal prosecutors detailed the "fansigning" and self-harm rituals the group allegedly used to demonstrate loyalty.

It seems there's a strong focus lately on both the **digital recruitment** of high-demand groups and the **raiding of physical compounds**.

CultNEWS101 Articles: 5/4/2026

2026-05-04T03:01:00.000-04:00

Troubled Teen Industry, Scientology, NatureBoy

AP: Adopted and Locked Away: Kids promised ‘forever homes’ instead confined in for-profit institutions

"...An Associated Press investigation finds that a business known for tough-love boarding schools for rebellious, rich teenagers has also set its sights on a different demographic: adopted kids. Experts say adoptees, only 2% of American children, account for an estimated 25-40% of those in residential treatment.

Adoptees told the AP they believe they’ve been enmeshed in a shadow orphanage system where children end up with the very fate that adoption was supposed to spare them — promised ‘forever homes’ but institutionalized instead, some for years, in oppressive and sometimes abusive facilities.

Charging as much as $20,000 a month, many of these facilities promise in their marketing pitches to treat adopted children for reactive attachment disorder, often called RAD. They offer a salve for desperate adoptive parents, claiming the child’s behavioral problems are caused by a pathological failure to connect with their caregivers, and they can learn to attach in faraway treatment."

LA Magazine: Scientology Raids Out of Control, Leading Church To Remove Door Handles

The LAPD is investigating an incident where the TikTok trend turned violent this week.

"Last week, Los Angeles reported on a viral trend called “Scientology Runs,” where gaggles of invaders push past security to see how far they can make it inside the Church of Scientology’s notoriously secret sprawl.

Since then, the “raiders,” as the participants call themselves, have become increasingly destructive, forcing the church to remove its door handles and chain the entry shut to outsiders in an attempt to stop the TikTok challenge.

The LAPD is now investigating the incident, which could lead to trespassing and assault charges. The “speed run” trend has gained traction in recent days, with youth attempting to outdo one another by making it deeper into Scientology facilities before being stopped.

The Church of Scientology is notoriously secretive, a factor that appears to be fueling the trend. They have not released a statement regarding the increasingly problematic social media craze, but according to social media posts, there are now no door handles and armed guards outside the Hollywood location."

ABC30: 'The Cult of NatureBoy': Inside the modern-day cult led by 'the ultimate influencer'

"They called him their god, but behind that charismatic facade, he was a master manipulator.

In "The Cult of NatureBoy," ABC News Studios takes audiences into the case of Eligio Bishop, aka "NatureBoy," who used social media to recruit followers to join what he described as a real-life utopia.

Eventually, it all turned into something more sinister.

On The Red Carpet spoke with director Benjamin Zand and investigator Chantelle Coleman about the four-part docuseries.

In 2016, Bishop began using his social media platforms to preach about an idyllic lifestyle, specifically, "he was kind of preaching an answer to kind of many of the problems that kind of young Americans, specifically young Black Americans are facing at that point, with a kind of simple message of kind of return to nature," Zand explains.

Tall and good-looking, Zand says Bishop was "like the ultimate influencer."

He certainly used that influence to his advantage.

"He has an ego the size of Earth," Coleman tells us.

"He's someone that believes that he has an answer for everything and that all knowledge should come through him. He's somebody who believes that, and he is, charismatic. He's also manipulative. He's also egotistical. He's someone who is great at manipulating. He's a master manipulator. He's very divisive. He is someone who can be very cruel. Vile. Evil almost," Coleman goes on to say. 'I think his angle was to become... I won't go as far as to say Jim Jones, but I think that he would have loved to have- to have a community that large. But ultimately, Eligio's end goal was never based in any type of reality.'"

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

CultMediation.com

Intervention101.com to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.

CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.

CultNEWS101.com news, links, resources about: cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations, and related topics.

The selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not imply that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly endorse the content. We provide information from multiple perspectives to foster dialogue.

The ‘Temple of Doom cult’ terrifying residents of Crewe

2026-05-03T17:07:57.826-04:00

Arrests after a 500-officer raid on former orphanage shine light on fanatical Islamic religious sect, whose leader claims he is ‘new pope’

Neil Johnston

The Telegraph

May 3, 2026

When those living on a street in the town of Crewe were invited for “beanies and burgers” by their unusual neighbours, they hoped it would be an olive branch.

But their concern has only grown over the odd behaviour of the 150 people living in a former orphanage likened to the Temple of Doom.

Best known for its railway interchange and a Bentley factory, Crewe is now the headquarters of a fanatical Islamic religious sect, whose leader claims to be the “new pope” and the successor to the prophet Mohammed.

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light (AROPL), who dress all in black and wear beanie hats as “religious head coverings”, is led by Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, a 42-year-old Egyptian-American, who believes he is “the riser” and the self-proclaimed “saviour of mankind”.

But it’s the group’s military-style marches, hovering drones and robot guard dogs have alarmed his neighbours on Victoria Avenue in Crewe.

The married father of four has also said he is the successor to Jesus and his followers believe he can make the moon disappear.

Aliens control US presidents

Members of the sect also believe that George Washington was Adam Weishaupt, who is believed to be the founder of the Illuminati, and that a race of aliens known as “Shfar” control US presidents and world leaders.

The sect’s gospel suggests that George Bush Snr is a “shapeshifting extraterrestrial” who is “under control”.

Bizarre scripture also discusses a planet called Al-Aroos where rabbits are the size of bears while followers have told of Hashem’s “miracles” including bringing a woman in Germany back from the dead and healing blind people.

The sect has been described as a “cult” and on Wednesday 10 people from eight different countries were arrested after a raid involving more than 500 officers from four police forces as part of an investigation into alleged modern slavery.

Dozens of police cars and vans descended on Grade II-listed Webb House before 9am with detectives assisted by a drone squad, a helicopter and a Vulcanair P68R surveillance plane.

The suspects, arrested on suspicion of offences ranging from human trafficking and forced marriage to sexual assault and modern slavery, were released pending further enquiries on Friday.

Cheshire Police said that, in addition to bail conditions, a court had approved slavery and trafficking risk orders against Hashem and four other suspects, which ban them from entering Crewe, contacting the alleged victim or leaving the country.

A further 25 people have been charged with public order offences after obstructing police during the raid, which witnesses described as a “mini-riot”.

Followers living in the £1.5m compound insisted there was no wrongdoing and repeated Hashem’s claim to be the rightful pope.

Raised in Indiana to an Egyptian father and American mother, Hashem initially produced documentaries in which he infiltrated cults but later went on to form his own sect where he declared himself the “Qaim” or the “Mahdi”, a saviour figure from Islamic doomsday prophecy and the successor to Muhammad.

Followers urged to donate earnings

The group has followers around the world and is also known as The Black Banners of the East, the Ansar of Imam Mahdi and the Companions of the Seventh Covenant.

It moved to the UK in 2021 from Sweden, where immigration authorities investigated several companies linked to the sect and issued deportation orders to dozens of its members.

The Home Office is also investigating concerns over visas linked to the community, but Hashem has continued to proselytise online through YouTube, where he has attracted millions of views and TikTok where the group has 96,000 followers.

His “scripture” includes a 628-page book, The Goal of the Wise, which says that his followers have a “duty” to donate their entire salary, other than some deductions for basic living, and to sell their houses or land to fund his mission to create a “divine” state.

“It is the duty of every single believing man and woman in this Call to turn in all of their belongings except for that which they need for basic livelihood, in order to help the Qaim establish his State,” the book states.

Followers say they are misunderstood and mean no harm but their unusual behaviour has triggered concern locally with its activities being compared to a “training camp”.

In one recent TikTok, filmed in January and titled “The True Hajj: The Black Cloud renews its allegiance to the Mahdi”, Hashem was filmed leaving the red-brick building in Crewe and waving to followers, all in black.

To the sound of drums, men carrying black flags march in columns around a football pitch as a man shouts to various “companies” to stand to “attention” and salute while the leader inspects them on the grass, with the gardens of semi-detached houses visible in the background.

Women then carry gold and black balloons and labels reading the “Mahdi has appeared”, before hugging the leader while the men march with their fists in the air and chant loudly.

Like something out of Indiana Jones

Residents who back on to the compound said the parades were a regular occurrence and compared the marches to that of followers of the cult in the 1984 Indiana Jones blockbuster.

“You can hear them marching in the evening,” a resident said. “It’s like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, they have been doing training. It’s a cult and if you do something they don’t like they get aggressive.”

“They have two German Shepherds they walk round and have a drone they fly every night for hours. There are rumours they have been spying on people’s rooms. The leader doesn’t come out, the rumour is he doesn’t come out the compound because he is scared of snatch squads.”

Another resident added: “It started with beanies and burgers day. The week after they had security dogs.”

Others said they were scared to walk past the compound and that “robot dogs” had been used to monitor those passing its gates.

“We’ve been frightened for years, we will not walk down this road,” a woman said. “We’ve seen them all covered in black. If anybody goes to the gate all the security are there with robotic dogs.”

The grounds of the compound have British and US flags at the entrance and a white statue stands in front of the porch.

Inside, the building contains accommodation for 150 people, a studio used for social media output and a Hall of Mysteries, which the sect’s magazine, Divine Just State, said would become “an official tourist attraction in which history is recorded and documented for the purpose of educating the world”.

‘We believe he is the real, true pope’

Members of the sect are also said to have asked people whether they own their houses so they can buy them while other complaints relate to late-night floodlights and security shining torches into gardens.

Lawyers for AROPL said it would not be commenting other than to confirm that it is co-operating with the investigation and was unable to comment further at this stage.

However, since the raid, members of the community have camped outside Middlewich Custody Suite demanding the “immediate release” of those being questioned.

In an open letter addressed to Cheshire Police, supporters said they were staging a “collective protest” and expressing their “profound concern” about the arrests.

They said the raid had caused “significant distress to thousands of followers worldwide” and urged police to conduct their investigation with the “utmost speed and transparency”.

Husam, a member of the sect who said he was part of the outreach team, said there was no evidence of wrongdoing.

“This is way over the top,” he said, pointing at a line of police vans. “I think if you’re accusing a people of something, you should take them to the court, you should call them into the investigation.

“Wouldn’t it make more sense and be cheaper and better that you would call the family that you’re suspecting of having a slave right to the police station. They would rather spend your tax money with all of this crazy insanity and cause a huge fuss online and defame an entire religion. It is inhumane behaviour.”

He said he was aware the group had been described as a cult but said this was unfair and that the term “has been used and abused in so many different ways that you can actually name everything a cult right now”.

“Governments can be labelled as cults,” he said. “You name it, any sort of group can be labelled as a cult.”

He has not heard from Hashem since the police operation began, but said he was “best man alive” and people were wrong to dismiss his teachings.

“We believe that he is the real, true pope,” he said. “I’ve never met a human being like him.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/05/02/the-temple-of-doom-cult-terrifying-residents-of-crewe/

Honoring Strength on Cult Recovery Day

2026-04-30T18:30:00.000-04:00

## Honoring Strength on Cult Recovery Day

We honor the survivors, the families who never stopped searching for answers, and the dedicated professionals working to provide a safe harbor for those finding their way back.

### Why Today Matters:

* **Raising Awareness:** Shining a light on the dynamics of coercive control to help others spot the signs early.

* **Building Community:** Reminding survivors that they are not alone and that a life of freedom is possible.

* **Advocating for Change:** Promoting education and resources that empower individuals to heal and thrive.

To everyone on this journey: **Your voice matters, your story is yours again, and your strength is remarkable.**

**#CultRecoveryDay #SurvivorStrength #ReclaimYourLife #HealingJourney**

CultRecovery101.com

Crewe religious group raided by police investigating allegations of serious sexual offences

2026-04-29T13:37:35.701-04:00

About 500 officers deployed as part of operation at headquarters of Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light

Maeve McClenaghan

Guardian

April 29, 2026

Police have raided the headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light following an investigation into allegations of serious sexual offences, modern slavery and forced marriage.

About 500 officers drawn from across the north-west of England were on the ground on Wednesday morning. Police confirmed nine people had been arrested in relation to the investigation and were being held in custody.

The officers had warrants to enter the group’s headquarters, which is based at a former orphanage, as well as other properties in Crewe, Cheshire.

The arrests come after Cheshire police were alerted in March about a woman, now based in the Republic of Ireland, who had made a complaint of being raped and sexually abused at AROPL’s headquarters. The force said the alleged offences took place in 2023 and involved the woman, who was a member of the group at the time.

Police said six men and three women were arrested on a range of suspicions including human trafficking, sexual assault, rape, forced marriage and modern day slavery offences. The suspects are American, Mexican, Spanish, Egyptian, Italian and Swedish.

A further 13 people have been arrested on suspicion of public order offences that do not relate to the investigation.

After the arrests, police conducted a search of the premises. The road next to the sect’s headquarters was closed off on Wednesday morning as a convoy of police vehicles entered the gated property.

Ch Supt Gareth Wrigley said the police investigation was focused on individual suspects: “While those arrested are members of the group, I want to make clear that this is not an investigation into the religion; this is an investigation into the serious allegations which have been reported to us.”

Wrigley added: “We treat all reports of sexual assault seriously and are committed to doing all we can to achieve justice.”

AROPL is a religious sect that moved its headquarters to Crewe, in Cheshire, in 2021. It blends tenets of Islam with conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and aliens controlling US presidents. Followers wear black beanie hats and believe the sect’s leader can cure the sick and make the moon disappear.

AROPL says it is a peaceful, open and transparent religious movement derived from Shia Islam that has faced persecution around the world owing to its belief in equality and human rights. The group has charity status in the UK.

Officers being briefed on the operation. Photograph: Cheshire constabulary

About 150 people live together in the sprawling, grade II-listed building in Crewe. Other followers live elsewhere in the town and around the world. Followers proselytise through slick social media videos, produced onsite at Crewe. The group’s videos on YouTube have had more than 31m views.

About 56 children are understood to be living at the group’s headquarters, where they are home-schooled. Wrigley said the force was working with local partners to put safeguarding measures in place.

In the past, Cheshire East council’s social services twice made inquiries relating to the group or the children. There is no evidence action was deemed necessary.

The Guardian has previously spoken to former members. Some described living in a tightly controlled group and said they had felt pressured to sever ties with people outside the sect. AROPL’s lawyers denied that members were encouraged to ostracise relatives or were tightly controlled.

AROPL moved its headquarters to the UK in 2021 from Sweden. Before that, the group had been in Egypt and Germany.

In Sweden the sect was investigated by immigration forces and 69 members had their residency permits revoked.

In a series of rulings in 2022 an immigration court ordered the deportation of dozens of the group’s members, although most had moved to the UK by the time the judgments were handed down.

AROPL decried the investigations in Sweden as racist and religious persecution.

The Guardian has previously reported that the group was being investigated in the UK by the Home Office over its use of skilled worker visas.

The Home Office’s investigation focuses on visas issued to AROPL Studios, a company set up in 2021 to produce social media and YouTube videos about the sect’s teachings.

AROPL denied using illegal immigration practices. Through lawyers, it said the immigration status of all its members and workers was lawful.

When asked about the recent arrests, AROPL’s lawyers told the Guardian: “Our client has no comment other than to say that any wrongdoing is vehemently denied.”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/29/crewe-police-raid-ahmadi-religion-peace-light