A former Imam has been jailed for life, when court heard that, he has been serially abused women and girls for more than ten years, while exploiting his position as religion leaders in East London.
Abdul Halim Khan 54, was sentencing on Friday at Snarebrook crown court in East London and ordered to spend at least, 20 years according to GBI.
He was found guilty on February 14 of 21 offences including nine counts of rape, four counts of sexual assaults women, five counts of sexual assaults of a child under 13, five counts of rape of a child under 13 and one count of assault by penetration.
The court heard that Khan targeted 7 women and girls, while working as imam in East London, using his position of trust to gain access to them and exert control.
He arranged meeting in secluded places and sometimes in victims’ home where he carried out abuses while claiming he was a jinn(a supernatural spirit)
Prosecutors said, he also used threat link to “black magic” to frighten victim into silence, making them believed harm would come to them or their families if they speak out.
Police said, the abuses came to light in February 2018 when the youngest victim disclosed what happened to a teacher at school prompted a wider investigationsG
‘Evil personified’
Cuthbert talked of Khan specifically targeting women and girls from the Bangladeshi Muslim community because of his standing and the shame the victims might feel in speaking out about sexual abuse.
“You behaved as if you were untouchable. You were confident that if they did come forward it would be you and not they who would be believed,” Cuthbert told Khan.
The court heard statements from some of the victims who all spoke of the severely detrimental impact the attacks had caused, with one talking about having tried to take her own life.
One of Khan’s victims, who said she was a child when she was abused, tearfully told the court: “To me, Khan is not a human being, he is evil personified.”
‘Remarkable bravery’
He was found guilty in February of nine counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, five counts of rape of a child under 13 and one count of assault by penetration.
Despite his convictions, the court received letters of support for Khan from his family and some members of the community ahead of sentencing.
Det Ch Insp Jennie Ronan, whose team led the investigation, said: “Abdul Khan presented himself as a respectable man who could be trusted.
“However, this was far from the truth, and he instead preyed upon and took advantage of others.
“Today, I want to focus on the victim-survivors, who have shown remarkable bravery in reporting Khan and great strength throughout the trial.”
Melissa Garner, specialist prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: “Abdul Halim Khan used their deeply held beliefs to instil fear and silence in them, making them believe their families would be at risk if they ever spoke out.”
An NSPCC spokesperson said: “It is deeply disturbing that Khan abused his position as a trusted faith leader to commit sexual offences against girls and women using fear and manipulation to control and silence those he targeted.”
