KUALA LUMPUR: Betrayed by her own sibling, forced into marriage with a Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd Holdings' (GISB) leader, and subjected to mental and physical abuse.
Ummu Atiyyah, 41, the eldest daughter of the late Al-Arqam founder, Ashaari Muhammad, has revealed the dark chapter of her life after being forced into marriage and enduring abuse at the hands of senior figures in GISB.
After her father's passing in 2010, Ummu Atiyyah was coerced into marrying Fadil, a powerful figure in the group, in 2015.
The marriage was intended to strengthen the group's hold on her family.
"They wanted me to become his fourth wife, but I refused because Fadil was not my choice. I fled to a friend's house in Jordan, but Fadil, along with my own siblings, came at 1am to cause a scene and forced me to return.
"After a week of harassment, my friend, fearing for her safety, asked me to leave after receiving threats from Fadil and his followers," she told a press conference today.
A single mother, Ummu Atiyyah had no choice but to submit to forced marriage and was taken to Turkey.
"I was separated from my child from a previous marriage for two years. Because I refused to be intimate with Fadil, I was burned with a lighter, locked in a room, and repeatedly submerged in a pool.
"My sibling, who was part of the abuse, even forced me to strip in front of Fadil. After being submerged for over an hour, I gave in, fearing for my life. I was also beaten with a rubber hose by my sibling," she recounted.
The abuse continued in Indonesia, where she suffered both mental and physical torment before managing to escape.
"What I want to highlight is their shamelessness and immorality. They promote GISB as an Islamic company to gain trust and deceive people," she said.
Meanwhile, another victim Mohamad Adam, 33, shared his own harrowing experience.
For over 10 years, he, his wife, and their child were forced to work for GISB without pay and were separated from one another.
"My wife and I were kept in separate dormitories, and our child was placed in a GISB orphanage. We couldn't live together, and I had to get permission from the leaders just to see my wife and child, as I couldn't afford to rent a home.
"During those 10 years, I worked without any salary, and there were no contributions to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) or Social Security Organisation (Perkeso). We were only provided food, drink, and shelter," he said.
Mohamad Adam's four-year-old child was also subjected to trauma, locked in a dog cage simply for wetting his pants.
"My heart still aches. My child was only four. I wasn't allowed to report the incident, even when he needed stitches for an injury. I was horrified when I saw a video of my child being caned," he said.
He escaped in October 2021 but has since been separated from his wife and child.
"I was only able to see my child after they were rescued during the recent Op Global. My wife was forced to file for divorce, with the excuse that I wasn't providing financial support, a common tactic used by GISB.
"I still love my wife and want us to live a normal life together. I hope she returns, and I'm ready to welcome her back with open arms," he said.