According to a report by BBC on Friday, May 15, 2026, a former imam in East London, Abdul Halim Khan, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of multiple s3xual offences involving women and children over a period spanning more than a decade.
Khan, 54, was sentenced on Friday at Snaresbrook Crown Court in East London and ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years before becoming eligible for parole.
The court heard that the former religious leader used his position of trust and influence within the community to target vulnerable victims while serving as an imam in East London.
Khan was found guilty in February on 21 offences, including several counts of r@pe, s3xual assault, assault by penetration, and offences involving minors.
According to prosecutors, the offences involved seven female victims, including children, whom he allegedly manipulated and controlled through fear, intimidation, and abuse of authority.
The court was told that Khan arranged meetings with victims in isolated locations and, in some instances, at their homes, where the offences were committed.
Prosecutors said he exploited deeply held religious beliefs and used threats linked to spiritual harm and “black magic” to silence victims and discourage them from reporting the abuse.
Police said the case first came to light in February 2018 after one of the youngest complainants disclosed the abuse to a teacher at school, prompting a wider investigation by authorities.
The subsequent inquiry uncovered allegations spanning several years and involving multiple victims from the Bangladeshi Muslim community in East London.
During sentencing, Judge David Cuthbert said Khan acted as though he was beyond accountability and deliberately targeted individuals he believed would be reluctant to come forward because of cultural and community pressures.
“You behaved as if you were untouchable,” the judge told him in court.
The judge added that Khan appeared confident that his social standing and religious influence would protect him from scrutiny.
Victim impact statements presented in court described the severe emotional and psychological effects of the abuse.
Some victims reportedly spoke about long-term trauma, fear, and emotional distress resulting from the offences.
One complainant, who said she was abused as a child, described Khan in court as “evil personified,” while another reportedly spoke about struggling with mental health challenges following the incidents.
Despite the convictions, the court heard that some family members and supporters submitted letters backing Khan ahead of sentencing.
Detective Chief Inspector Jennie Ronan, who led the investigation, said Khan had presented himself publicly as a trusted religious figure while secretly exploiting vulnerable individuals.
“Abdul Khan presented himself as a respectable man who could be trusted. However, this was far from the truth,” she said.
Ronan praised the victims for their courage in reporting the offences and supporting the prosecution throughout the lengthy court process.
Melissa Garner of the Crown Prosecution Service said Khan used fear and manipulation to maintain silence among victims, exploiting their beliefs and concerns for their families.
An NSPCC spokesperson also condemned the offences, describing the case as deeply disturbing and highlighting the dangers of abuse carried out under the guise of trust and authority.
Related video