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Followers Regard Ayah Pin As God’, Court Told

New Straits Times, Malasia
Mar. 5, 2006
www.nst.com.my

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Monday March 6, 2006

KUALA TERENGGANU, Sun. – The Syariah Court was told today that Ariffin Mohamad a.k.a. “Ayah Pin”, the leader of a deviant sect known as the “Sky Kingdom“, was regarded as “God” by his followers.

Terengganu Religious Affairs Department enforcement officer Mohd Tahir Long said Wan Noriah Wan Ali, 51, and Tuan Rosmani Tuan Muda, 54, confessed this to him when he took their statements after their arrest during a special operation at the Sky Kingdom settlement in Hulu Besut last July.

He said Wan Noriah also told him that not all the followers worshipped Ariffin, 66.

He said he recorded the two women’s statements at the Kampung Raja police station in Besut on July 20 last year.

“They told me they had been staying at the settlement for a long time and were followers of Ayah Pin,” he added.

Tahir, 44, was the fifth witness in the trial of 48 Sky Kingdom followers who were charged with violating an order by the religious authority to stay away from the settlement.

They are alleged to have committed the offence about 10.30am on July 20 last year, when they were found in the compound of Ayah Pin’s residence in Kampung Batu 13, Hulu Besut.

Similar charges against Ismail Mohamad, 50, were withdrawn on the court being informed of his death yesterday.

Hearing continues tomorrow.