Qari Asim: All communities and all faiths must face up to Keighley sex abuse shame

THE Keighley grooming case this week saw an Asian gang of 12 men jailed for a total of 130 years for the repeated rape and sexual abuse of a vulnerable schoolgirl.
Twelve men have been sentenced to a total of 130 years for sexually exploiting a young schoolgirl whose life they regarded as "entirely and utterly worthless". Eleven men were jailed for rape and a twelfth man was jailed for sexual activity with a child under 16. One defendant, Tauqeer Hussain, was jailed for five consecutive years for a separate attack on a different victim in 2009. A second defendant, Yasser Kabir, was also jailed for five years consecutively after being found guilty in a separate trial for four counts of rape, four counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration on two Asian girls between the ages of six and nine. Jailing the men, Judge Roger Thomas QC, said: "None of these defendants had any concern for the victim.Twelve men have been sentenced to a total of 130 years for sexually exploiting a young schoolgirl whose life they regarded as "entirely and utterly worthless". Eleven men were jailed for rape and a twelfth man was jailed for sexual activity with a child under 16. One defendant, Tauqeer Hussain, was jailed for five consecutive years for a separate attack on a different victim in 2009. A second defendant, Yasser Kabir, was also jailed for five years consecutively after being found guilty in a separate trial for four counts of rape, four counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration on two Asian girls between the ages of six and nine. Jailing the men, Judge Roger Thomas QC, said: "None of these defendants had any concern for the victim.
Twelve men have been sentenced to a total of 130 years for sexually exploiting a young schoolgirl whose life they regarded as "entirely and utterly worthless". Eleven men were jailed for rape and a twelfth man was jailed for sexual activity with a child under 16. One defendant, Tauqeer Hussain, was jailed for five consecutive years for a separate attack on a different victim in 2009. A second defendant, Yasser Kabir, was also jailed for five years consecutively after being found guilty in a separate trial for four counts of rape, four counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of assault by penetration on two Asian girls between the ages of six and nine. Jailing the men, Judge Roger Thomas QC, said: "None of these defendants had any concern for the victim.

The terrible incidents of child sexual exploitation (“CSE”) continue to bring shame to our society and raise some pertinent questions about safeguarding the vulnerable in our society.

The race and religion of the twisted criminals who engaged in this abhorrent practice has been dragged into the debate. The far right tend to exploit such tragedies and argue that it is yet another case of predominantly Muslim men of Pakistani heritage taking advantage of young white girls. 

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However, a closer inspection of the wide spectrum of individuals involved in CSE shows that the perpetrators in fact come from all backgrounds and all sections of society.

Anyone applying even a small amount of common sense would know that the race or religion of the perpetrators have nothing to do with their actions. No faith, in particular Islam, would condone such abhorrent actions and the violation of the dignity of other human beings, in particular defenceless young girls.

Islam obliges individuals to be active in ensuring the prevention and avoidance of any behaviour which may lead to inappropriate and unacceptable sexual behaviour and abuse of women [See Koran 17:32]. Muslims have, therefore, strongly and unreservedly condemned sexual grooming and exploitation of young girls by men.

Sometimes, it is also alleged that British Pakistani community know the perpetrators of CSE but protect the so-called “honour” of the family of the offenders by not reporting them to the relevant authorities.

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It is grossly unfair to assume that the entire Muslim community or British Pakistani community is aware of the perpetrators of child sexual exploitation. It is also unjust to blame parents (and in some instances children and wives) for not reporting the vile acts of perpetrators to the relevant authorities. We know that families of paedophiles are rarely aware of the heinous crimes that a relative commits.

If there are members of the British Pakistani community who are aware of individuals or gangs who are exploiting children and young girls, then it is absolutely abysmal and despicable if they are not reporting the wrongdoers to the relevant agencies or authorities.

Such silence, in effect, leads to granting an offender a “licence” to carry on committing sins, and failing to protect other girls, as well as failing to provide the victims the help they need. The silence of those who know of such gangs of men involved in CSE is utterly unacceptable.

It does not mean that people have to become spies and whistle-blowers, rather good neighbours in order to protect their own families and communities.

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The Muslim community must address the issue that men of Pakistani heritage are disproportionately involved in localised, street grooming of vulnerable girls.

It is naive to believe that Asian men only exploit white girls. For abusers, young vulnerable girls are a “commodity” and they do not differentiate on the grounds of colour or background.

Unheard Voices, published by Muslim Women’s Network UK in September 2013, revealed that Asian girls, in particular young Muslim girls, were being sexually exploited by Muslim men.

Young Muslim women are highly unlikely to disclose atrocities committed against them because, first families, community leaders, schools 
and authorities are all too 
ready to dismiss the attacks or even cover them up; secondly 
it is likely that the victims themselves will be blamed.

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It is the blackmail connected with shame and dishonour that is often used by the perpetrators to control victims.

Let’s be clear; there is no “honour” in letting the perpetrators of sexual exploitation get away.

The Keighley grooming case again raises some key questions: how can we better protect young vulnerable women, irrespective of their faith, colour and background and how can we dismantle the systematic models that the perpetrators have developed to exploit or abuse young vulnerable individuals?

Street grooming is an issue 
of power and opportunism versus vulnerability, as opposed to Muslim or Asian men versus white girls. The victims do not come from any one particular culture or community, and neither do the perpetrators.

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There seems to be a failure at all levels to protect vulnerable young girls and inspire young men to have a moral compass.

The focus on race and religion of the perverse criminals detracts from the real issue.

We need to bring about behavioural change in our society.

We need to send out a loud and clear message that abuse and abusers will not be tolerated within any of our communities.

Qari Asim MBE is an imam at Makkah Mosque in Leeds. He can be followed on Twitter via @QariAsim