Abdul Halim Khan, 54, exploited his position as a religious leader to sexually abuse seven victims over nine years, using threats of black magic and claims of evil spirits to silence them.

A former imam in east London has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 20 years, after being convicted of 21 sexual offences against seven women and girls, including children as young as 12.

Abdul Halim Khan, 54, abused his position as a religious leader to exploit members of the local Muslim community between 2005 and 2014, using their trust in him to commit a series of serious sexual crimes.

The court heard that Khan manipulated his victims by claiming they needed to be cleansed of evil spirits. He also threatened that black magic would cause death or serious harm to them or their families if they revealed what he had done.

In one particularly disturbing case, Khan allegedly told a young victim that she had ovarian cancer and claimed he was the only person capable of curing her. He subsequently drove her to a secluded location, where he raped her.

Judge Condemns Abuse of Religious Authority

Sentencing Khan at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Judge Leslie Cuthbert said the former imam had systematically abused his position of power for sexual gratification and behaved as though he was beyond accountability.

Prosecutors said Khan had weaponised his victims' religious beliefs and trust in him, using his standing within the community to manipulate and intimidate them.

His convictions covered a total of 21 offences: nine counts of rape, five counts of rape of a child under 13, four counts of sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, and one count of assault by penetration.

The offences involved seven victims and spanned nearly a decade, exposing a prolonged pattern of sexual abuse carried out under the guise of religious guidance.

Survivors Describe Lasting Psychological Harm

The court also heard accounts of the lasting psychological damage suffered by Khan's victims.

One survivor, who was a child when she was abused, told the court that Khan had concealed his actions behind the image of a religious man.

The case highlights how the abuse of trust and spiritual authority can leave victims feeling frightened and unable to speak out, particularly when threats are used to manipulate their beliefs and keep them silent.

Khan's life sentence, with a minimum term of 20 years, reflects the seriousness of the offences for which he was convicted. He will have to serve at least that minimum period before he can be considered for parole; release is not automatic.

The case serves as a stark reminder that religious standing does not place anyone above the law and that exploiting faith to facilitate sexual abuse can have devastating consequences for victims and their families.