A former imam in east London has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years after being convicted of a series of sexual offences against women and girls as young as 12.
Abdul Halim Khan was described in court as “cunning” and “manipulative” after a jury found him guilty of 21 offences including rape, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse committed between 2005 and 2014.
The court heard that Khan abused his position of religious authority within the local Muslim community to target seven victims, often isolating them in flats and other secluded locations.
Sentencing him at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Judge Leslie Cuthbert said Khan had shown a “deliberate distortion of the Muslim faith”, adding that he had systematically exploited his position of trust for sexual gratification.
The judge also said Khan behaved as if he was “untouchable”, believing victims would be too afraid to come forward due to shame and fear of not being believed.
During the trial, prosecutors said Khan manipulated victims by claiming he could remove “evil spirits” and used threats of “black magic” and harm to silence them. In one case, he falsely told a victim she had ovarian cancer and took her to a secluded area where she was raped.
Victim impact statements described severe and long-lasting trauma, with one survivor telling the court that Khan was “evil personified” and that she had even attempted to take her own life.
Prosecutors said Khan specifically targeted women and girls from the Bangladeshi Muslim community, exploiting cultural and religious sensitivities to maintain control over his victims.
Despite the convictions, the court heard that some family members and community figures submitted letters supporting Khan ahead of sentencing.
Detectives and prosecutors praised the “remarkable bravery” of the victims for coming forward, saying their testimony was crucial in securing
Source: BBC
