Former imam found guilty of multiple rapes and sexual assaults

A former Imam has been convicted today (Friday 13 February 2026) of numerous non-consensual sexual attacks on women and girls in East London.
   
Abdul Halim Khan, 54, has been found guilty of twenty one counts of rape and sexual assault as well as child sexual offences against seven women and girls at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

Khan was an imam at an east London mosque and used his position of trust and authority to get to know the seven victims, three of whom were young teenage girls at the time of offending.
 
All seven were members of the local Muslim community and Khan persuaded each of them into meeting him at isolated places including flats and quiet hidden locations to prevent harm falling on them according to him.

Khan would then rape or sexually abuse the victims under the premise he would be possessed or disguised as a Jinn (supernatural spirit). The victims felt they had to keep these acts hidden and quiet from families and friends for fear of doing them harm via ‘Black Magic’.

Melissa Garner, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Abdul Halim Khan a former imam abused his position of trust and authority to carry out a vicious series of rapes and sexual abuses against seven victims including three vulnerable teenage girls.

“Khan coerced and deceived them into thinking that he possessed supernatural powers which could protect them and their families from harm in exchange for hideous acts of sexual abuse without their consent.

“The lifelong physical and emotional trauma caused to victims by men like Khan cannot be understated. 

“We would like to thank the victims in this case for coming forward and reporting this devastating crime. I hope this conviction sends a clear message that the CPS will relentlessly pursue justice and prosecute those who sexually exploit women and children, whenever that abuse took place.

“I encourage any victims of child sexual abuse and sexual violence to report the crimes committed against them to the police. You are not alone and there is always help available.”

To deal with some of the more complex and challenging child sexual abuse cases like this, the CPS has established a dedicated Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit to share specialist understanding, build strong cases and increase the amount of successful prosecutions.