A Kansas court has convicted six former leaders of the United Nation of Islam for making minors work relentlessly and subjecting them to severe abuse.
Vice reported that six individuals from the UNOI cult have been found guilty of extreme child exploitation and forced labor in Kansas.
Founded in 1978 by Royall Jenkins after splitting from the Nation of Islam, the United Nation of Islam (UNOI) initially emerged as a group claiming to uplift African Americans through spiritual guidance.
However, in 2018, it was officially declared a cult by a federal judge, revealing a darker underlying agenda.
The organization, under the guise of offering life skills and education, exploited children systematically. Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, remarked on the deep betrayal by these leaders who instead of nurturing, grossly manipulated the minors for unpaid labor.
Children trapped within the UNOI worked exhaustive 16-hour shifts across several businesses in Kansas City, including restaurants, gas stations, and bakeries.
These businesses were all owned by the cult, disguising its exploitative practices under the operation of legitimate entities.
The minors lived in unimaginable conditions, housed in crowded and rodent-infested environments, barely fed, and often subjected to brutal physical abuse. Reports of children drinking toilet water out of sheer thirst or stealing food due to starvation came to light during the trial.
The community's oversight bodies, including Kansas City officials and the local school board, faced severe criticism for their prolonged neglect and in some cases, direct support of the cult.
There were indications that despite visible signs of abuse and several reports concerning the welfare of children at the UNOI-run school, no decisive action was taken.
A victim, speaking anonymously to the Kansas Reflector, provided insight into the organization’s deep entrenchment within local politics, which facilitated its prolonged abusive practices.
The convicted individuals include high-ranking members like Kaaba Majeed, Yunus Rassoul, and Daniel Aubrey Jenkins, among others, with Majeed facing up to 20 years in prison due to additional counts of forced labor. Their trial, which concluded in August 2023, lasted 26 days, revealing the horrifying extent of their activities.
Frighteningly, the child workers were coerced to remain under threat of "eternal hellfire" if they thought of escaping the oppressive environment.
This psychological manipulation compounded their physical suffering and isolation.
The community’s response has been a mix of shock and outrage. Civic leaders and local activists are now calling for stringent monitoring of organizations that operate under religious or educational fronts.
Reflecting on the case, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke condemned the defendants' actions and emphasized the importance of recognizing such abuses early to prevent future occurrences. Clarke highlighted that the betrayal of trust was not just a personal tragedy but a significant societal failure.