Its director, Shahzihan Ahmad, said an aqeedah or faith restoration process was a likely punishment for the 108 people, who have been released on bail after being arrested for suspected involvement in various Islamic criminal offences, including those related to faith, unauthorised charity collections and marriages.

“The rehabilitation of faith requires the individual’s willingness, but for those aged 18 and above, we need a foundation for such action, such as a fatwa that determines they need to undergo (faith) restoration before the process can be initiated,” Shahzihan said.

The Selangor state fatwa committee ruled on Oct 3 that GISBH’s leaders, followers, employees or members of the organisation and its affiliates have deviated from the true teachings of Islam, and were believed to be practising a ritual propagated by the Darul Arqam group, which was declared deviant in 1993.