A UK court has sentenced an Indian origin Muslim imam to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years after he was convicted of raping and sexually abusing seven women and girls, including children as young as 12, in East London.
An Indian-origin imam in the UK has been jailed for life after being convicted of raping seven women and girls, including minors as young as 12, over nine years.
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Abdul Halim Khan exploited his position as a religious leader, falsely claiming he was possessed by a “djinn” to… pic.twitter.com/2IxhtvTGGR
The 54-year-old Abdul Halim Khan carried out the crimes between 2005 and 2014 while serving as a religious leader in the Old Ford Road area. Prosecutors said Khan used his influence within the Bangladeshi Muslim community to target women and girls and gain their trust.
Claimed he had the power to remove evil spirits
During the trial, the court heard that Khan convinced victims he had supernatural powers and could cleanse them of evil spirits or “djinn”. He would often call women and girls to isolated places such as flats, hidden locations, and secluded areas before sexually abusing them.
Khan also threatened victims with “black magic”, warning that harm would come to them or their families if they ever spoke about the abuse. Several victims said they remained silent because they genuinely believed his claims and feared the consequences.
One victim told the court she was just 13 years old when Khan sexually assaulted her. She said he warned her that something terrible would happen to her family if she revealed the abuse.
In another shocking case, Khan falsely told a young girl that she had ovarian cancer and claimed only he could cure her. He later drove her to a secluded location and raped her.
Convicted on 21 charges
In February, Khan was found guilty of 21 offences, including rape, child rape, sexual assault, sexual assault of children under 13, and assault by penetration.
The sentencing took place at Snaresbrook Crown Court, where Judge Leslie Cuthbert said Khan had abused his position of power and trust for sexual gratification. The judge described his actions as a “deliberate distortion of the Muslim faith”.
Judge Cuthbert also said Khan specifically targeted women and girls from the Bangladeshi Muslim community because he believed fear, shame, and social stigma would stop them from reporting him.
Victims described years of “lies and manipulation” by a man who was widely seen as religious and trustworthy in the community. One woman called him “evil personified” while speaking about the trauma caused by the abuse.
Throughout the trial, Khan denied the claims, claiming the accusations were part of a conspiracy and had been fabricated for revenge but the jury rejected his defence and found him guilty.
