Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2002, Page 76
Red House /Al Fuqra
Rural Muslims Draw Attention
Federal prosecutors believe that a Red House, VA mobile home compound of African
American Muslims is linked to a violent Muslim sect called Al Fuqra. The community is one of
a handful established across the country by followers—300 all told— of the Muslims of
Americas, a group that promotes advanced studies in Islam and encourages its members to
live in small villages, "free from the decadence of a godless society."
After the Sept. 11 attacks, federal officials arrested three Muslims of the Americas on gun
charges, and prosecutors linked them to Al Fuqra, which they say has committed
firebombing and murders in the past two decades. Muslims of the Americas considers
accusations of terrorism as manifestations of a Zionist conspiracy to target Muslims.
The Red House Muslims, who deny the very existence of Al Fuqra, say they are law abiding
citizens and followers of Sheif Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani, a cleric in Pakistan who used the
Koran to treat illness and who founded Muslims of the Americas in 1980.
Red House resident Abdul Jabbar, 26, a chemist, said he came from South Philadelphia to
escape crime, not commit it. Local law enforcement officials say they have had peaceful
relations with the Muslims. (Jo Thomas with Ralph Blumental, New York Times, 1/3/02,
Internet)
Religion/China
Arrest for Smuggling Bibles
Hong Kong businessman Li Guangqiang was arrested in early January for smuggling into
China "cult publications" — apparently Christian religious books — according to the Chinese
Foreign Ministry. Li was detained last May for importing thousands of Bibles for a banned
Christian group, the The Shouters, because it was not the version approved by Chinese
authorities.
The Shouters, who employ a charismatic style of worship that includes shouting out prayers,
was banned by China in 1995 as "an aberrant religious organization," according to Amnesty
International. And Li was indicted for "using a cult to undermine the enforcement of the
law," according to the Hong Kong-based information Center for Human Rights and
Democracy.
While President Bush has expressed concern over Li's case, a ministry spokesman said that
"no other country should interfere in the independence of China's judicial system." (AP,
1/8/02, Internet)
See: "Groups Urge Bush to Protest Execution of Chinese Pastor," Religion Today, Special
Report, 1/4/02)
Salvation Army
Russian Court Says Salvation Army A Paramilitary Group /Russia
A Moscow court has ruled that the Salvation Army is a "paramilitary organization," and the
Army said that it will fight attempts to expel it from the country. The Eastern European
Commander of the Salvation Army told the BBC that his organization is being targeted
because it "would not go down the road of paying bribes." Authorities say the reason for the
ruling is that the Salvation Army is not properly registered, and they question its use of
uniforms and rank. The crackdown comes under a 1997 law that bans religious groups for
trying to convert followers to faiths considered new to Russia. A Moscow spokesman for the
Army said its work is being hampered and members intimidated by police taking names at
services. (Nick Wells, Bloomberg, 12/21/01, Internet)
Red House /Al Fuqra
Rural Muslims Draw Attention
Federal prosecutors believe that a Red House, VA mobile home compound of African
American Muslims is linked to a violent Muslim sect called Al Fuqra. The community is one of
a handful established across the country by followers—300 all told— of the Muslims of
Americas, a group that promotes advanced studies in Islam and encourages its members to
live in small villages, "free from the decadence of a godless society."
After the Sept. 11 attacks, federal officials arrested three Muslims of the Americas on gun
charges, and prosecutors linked them to Al Fuqra, which they say has committed
firebombing and murders in the past two decades. Muslims of the Americas considers
accusations of terrorism as manifestations of a Zionist conspiracy to target Muslims.
The Red House Muslims, who deny the very existence of Al Fuqra, say they are law abiding
citizens and followers of Sheif Mubarik Ali Shah Gilani, a cleric in Pakistan who used the
Koran to treat illness and who founded Muslims of the Americas in 1980.
Red House resident Abdul Jabbar, 26, a chemist, said he came from South Philadelphia to
escape crime, not commit it. Local law enforcement officials say they have had peaceful
relations with the Muslims. (Jo Thomas with Ralph Blumental, New York Times, 1/3/02,
Internet)
Religion/China
Arrest for Smuggling Bibles
Hong Kong businessman Li Guangqiang was arrested in early January for smuggling into
China "cult publications" — apparently Christian religious books — according to the Chinese
Foreign Ministry. Li was detained last May for importing thousands of Bibles for a banned
Christian group, the The Shouters, because it was not the version approved by Chinese
authorities.
The Shouters, who employ a charismatic style of worship that includes shouting out prayers,
was banned by China in 1995 as "an aberrant religious organization," according to Amnesty
International. And Li was indicted for "using a cult to undermine the enforcement of the
law," according to the Hong Kong-based information Center for Human Rights and
Democracy.
While President Bush has expressed concern over Li's case, a ministry spokesman said that
"no other country should interfere in the independence of China's judicial system." (AP,
1/8/02, Internet)
See: "Groups Urge Bush to Protest Execution of Chinese Pastor," Religion Today, Special
Report, 1/4/02)
Salvation Army
Russian Court Says Salvation Army A Paramilitary Group /Russia
A Moscow court has ruled that the Salvation Army is a "paramilitary organization," and the
Army said that it will fight attempts to expel it from the country. The Eastern European
Commander of the Salvation Army told the BBC that his organization is being targeted
because it "would not go down the road of paying bribes." Authorities say the reason for the
ruling is that the Salvation Army is not properly registered, and they question its use of
uniforms and rank. The crackdown comes under a 1997 law that bans religious groups for
trying to convert followers to faiths considered new to Russia. A Moscow spokesman for the
Army said its work is being hampered and members intimidated by police taking names at
services. (Nick Wells, Bloomberg, 12/21/01, Internet)
