"Asari Mohammed, the founder of Malaysia's Al Arqam Islamic sect, denounced his own teachings after spending seven weeks in government detention. Officially, the Al Arqam sect does not exist. Banned by the Malaysian authorities it stands accused of training suicide squads, keeping sex-slaves and defying true Islamic teaching. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamid explains his reasons for the ban. A prominent lawyer says the government fears the political power of Al Arqam's 100,000 supporters far more than their suspected religious deviation. The sect continues without its name and thousands of Malaysians still live in model communes. The sect continues to run successful businesses, practice polygamy and spread the forbidden fruit of Al Arqam." journeymanpictures