An imam from east London has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of raping and sexually assaulting multiple women and girls over more than a decade by manipulating them into believing he possessed supernatural powers.
Abdul Halim Khan, 54, of Old Ford Road in Bethnal Green, used his status as a respected religious leader within the local Bangladeshi Muslim community to target vulnerable victims between 2004 and 2015, according to the Metropolitan Police.
In February, Khan was found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court of multiple offences, including nine counts of rape, four counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, five counts of rape of a child under 13, and one count of assault by penetration.
He was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to serve a minimum term of 20 years.
While delivering the sentence, Judge Leslie Cuthbert said Khan had hidden behind a public image of religious respectability while exploiting women and children who trusted him for his own sexual gratification.
The judge told the court that Khan behaved as though he was untouchable and relied on the fear, shame, and stigma his victims might face within their community to keep them silent.
She said he believed that even if the victims came forward, he would be believed over them because of his standing as an imam.
One victim, who was a child at the time of the abuse, said in a statement read to the court that Khan was “evil personified” and accused him of using manipulation and fear while hiding behind the image of a religious man.
She said the abuse robbed her of autonomy over her own body and explained that threats involving members of her family left her feeling trapped into silence for years.
The woman described Khan as a continuing danger to society and said she believed he would remain dangerous for the rest of his life.
Another victim, who was also abused as a child, said she had been left terrified, powerless, and confused after Khan exploited both her vulnerability and her religious faith to control and intimidate her.
The Crown Prosecution Service said Khan often persuaded victims to meet him in isolated locations, including flats and secluded areas, where the abuse took place.
According to prosecutors, he convinced victims that he was possessed by or disguised as a jinn, a supernatural spirit, and used those claims to manipulate and frighten them into compliance and silence.
Victims were made to believe that speaking out or disobeying him could expose them or their families to harm through black magic, prosecutors added.
All seven victims came from the same local Bangladeshi Muslim community, and investigators said many initially feared reporting Khan because of the trust and authority he held as a religious figure.
The Metropolitan Police said the case first came to light in 2018 after the youngest victim disclosed the abuse to a teacher at her school.
During police interviews, Khan denied all allegations and claimed the accusations were part of a conspiracy and an attempt at revenge by the victims.
Detective Chief Inspector Jennie Ronan praised the victims for their courage in reporting the abuse and enduring the lengthy legal process.
She said the outcome of the case would hopefully provide some comfort to the survivors as they continue rebuilding their lives and also serve as a reminder that support is available to victims of sexual violence.
