Twenty-four people have denied obstructing officers during raids at the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Crewe amid a probe into alleged sexual abuse, forced marriage and modern slavery
People living at a religious community in Crewe have denied obstructing officers during raids carried out as part of an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse, forced marriage and modern slavery.
More than 500 officers took part in search warrants at three addresses linked to the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in the Cheshire town on April 29.
On Wednesday, 24 people appeared at South Cheshire Magistrates’ Court charged with public order offences, alleged to have taken place during the raids.
Annika Livermore, prosecuting, told the court residents obstructed officers from getting into rooms at Webb House, the group’s headquarters, with some linking arms to try to stop them getting past.
She said defendant Dareem Charles was alleged to have kicked at police shields and thrown items, while Marc Ferreira was alleged to have grabbed an officer while he was making an arrest.
The oldest defendant, Ramazan Demirovic, 59, was seen pushing past officers and wedging himself against a doorframe, Ms Livermore said. She added: “The defendant was then seen to lash out with his arms and push an officer to the face.”
Laure Delogne, who spoke through a French interpreter, was accused of hiding in a bush when police entered the site, the court heard.
The defendants, aged between 18 and 59, were brought into court individually, with the hearings listed to go on until the afternoon. All have addresses in Crewe apart from Hatem Sider, who told the court his address was in London. Many wore black clothing and some wore black beanie hats.
Cheshire Police said the defendants were of nationalities including British, French, Belgian, Iranian, Egyptian and American.
Outside the court building, a handful of protesters gathered, filming defendants on their phones as they arrived.
District Judge Ian Barnes granted the defendants unconditional bail until their trials, listed for dates in April next year at South Cheshire Magistrates’ Court.
Case management hearings were scheduled for September 29.
The following pleas were entered:
- Jahmeel Musa, 33, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Onur Aydin, 36, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable..
- Myrah Hashem, 27, pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with a section 35 direction.
- Dareem Charles, 36, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Hussein Khadum, 18, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Marc Ferreira, 38, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Gustavio Ruiz-Quinteros, 34, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Laure Delogne, 31, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Sarah Batul, 33, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Ramazan Demirovic, 59, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a constable.
- Rad El-Kanami, 47, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Soufiane Ben Abdeslam, 32, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer and obstructing a constable.
- Diniy Sisyam, 20, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Maryham Marfoug, 32, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Hatem Sider, 42, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Ahmed Elhaouss, 21, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer.
- Mohammed Hiary, 32, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Tahani Hashem, 27, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Aun Haideer, 26, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Taymour Elalfy, 37, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Mammadagha Abdullayer, 35, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Raimah Batul, 18, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer.
- Alireza Khatib Haghighi, 40, pleaded not guilty to obstructing a constable.
- Mohamed Ayob, 38, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer.
The case of Hamidreza Saghari, 39, who had been charged with obstructing a constable, was discontinued by the prosecution.
Twelve people arrested as part of the investigation into alleged sexual abuse were later released on conditional bail.
The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light is a sect that blends tenets of Shia Islam with conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and aliens controlling US presidents. Mainstream Muslim groups have long distanced themselves from the group.
The community is based at Webb House, a former orphanage where around 150 people are understood to be living. The site was returned to residents after police concluded their searches in early May.
