On 1st November (Sunday), a 34-year-old Islamic preacher was arrested for repeatedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl for two months by promising to use prayers to heal her ailments in Ochira, Kollam district, Kerala. The accused is identified as Mohammed Niyas Jouhari of Devikulangara in Alappuzha district. He is the director of Habibiyya Islamic Academy, which is reported to have been sealed after the incident.
Jouhari gained the family’s confidence by promising to treat the teenager’s health problems. The matter came to light when she shared her horrific ordeal with her friends. He was arrested in Karunagappally after Ochira police filed a case in response to her complaint.
According to reports, he sexually violated the minor in the name of a ritual cleaning meant to “free her grandmother from the influence of an evil spirit.” An official stated, “Jouhari has been popular as a preacher on social media. The victim’s family has been following his social media pages. The girl and her grandmother went to meet him at his educational institution, which is meant for nurturing Islamic faith, last year. The preacher allegedly convinced the woman that she was under the influence of an evil spirit and required a purification ritual. He allegedly lured her and the girl to his rented premises, where he repeatedly raped the latter for several months, starting last October.”
“Recently, the girl, who has been living under the trauma of the abuse, shared the alleged incident with her friends, leading to a case against the preacher. Medical reports and mobile phone chats were considered before making the arrest,” the cop added. He preyed on the underage girl at the academy, rented spaces, and other areas between October and November of last year.
Investigators reviewed Jouhari’s medical records and mobile phone conversations before they took him into custody on Saturday. Authorities are currently probing whether he sexually abused other girls as well. They are going to examine his electronic devices and cell phone. Additionally, they are also looking into significant financial transactions connected to his Islamic school in the Kollam district.
Jouhari has been booked under pertinent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) that deal with rape and criminal intimidation, as well as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He is a popular preacher who routinely posts prayer sessions and Islamic teachings on social media. He has more than 2.25 lakh subscribers on YouTube and nearly 1.27 lakh followers on Instagram.
