Court says Abdul Halim Khan used fear, trust, and false supernatural claims to silence victims..
Abdul Halim Khan, a 54-year-old imam from East London, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years after being convicted of serious sexual offences against seven women and girls.
The abuse took place over nine years, between 2005 and 2014, while Khan held a position of religious authority in the local community. He was found guilty of 21 offences, including rape, sexual assault, and child sexual offences.
During the case, the court heard that Khan used claims of supernatural powers and spiritual authority to manipulate victims, silence them, and exploit their trust. Some victims were young teenage girls at the time, and all were from the local Bangladeshi Muslim community.
Judge Leslie Cuthbert said Khan hid behind a public image of holiness while taking monstrous advantage of vulnerable women and girls. The judge described his actions as a deliberate distortion of the Muslim faith and said Khan behaved as though he was untouchable.
Victims told the court that the abuse had caused lasting trauma. One survivor said she genuinely believed Khan had supernatural powers and feared harm would come to her family if she spoke out.
The sentence marks a major legal reckoning for a man who used fear, authority, and deception to prey on those who trusted him.
