Global Ikhwan and the business of faith: Exploiting Islamic values for profit

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A banned Islamist group in Malaysia has been accused of forcing underage girls to marry older men in what critics say is a "clear example of how Global Ikhwan exploits Islam for control and profit."

The group, called Global Ikhwan, has ties to the al-Qaeda-linked al-Arqam movement, and the Malaysian government has long been concerned about it, particularly because of its ties to the Al-Arqam movement, the New York Times reports.

But the group's use of Islamic values for business purposes is "often superficial, serving primarily as a marketing tool to build trust and legitimacy within the Muslim community rather than genuinely upholding these values," writes an ethics expert at the University of Nottingham.

"To protect the integrity of Islamic business ethics and social enterprises, greater transparency and stronger regulatory oversight are urgently needed," he writes.

In a video titled "Life Inside Global Ikhwan," a former follower recounts how girls as young as 16 were pressured into marrying much older men, with little regard for their consent or welfare.

"This practice, justified by the group using religious doctrines, is a clear example of how Global Ikhwan exploits Islam for control and profit," he writes.

"This not only harms the credibility of genuine Islamic businesses but

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