Harfiz Ul Islam

Harfiz Ul Islam, a 56-year-old man from Walthamstow in east London, has been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison for a series of child sex offences committed against two young brothers. Ul Islam, who converted to the Islamic faith at the age of 21, posed as a religious teacher and exploited his position to groom and abuse the victims during the 1980s and early 1990s.

The offences took place while Ul Islam was instructing the brothers in religious matters. He had befriended the boys and their family through his work as a cleaner at a London mosque. Using his knowledge of the Islamic faith, Ul Islam gained the trust of the family, which allowed him to perpetrate the abuses under the guise of religious education. The court heard that he admitted to nine counts of indecent assault on children, four counts of indecency with children, and 10 counts of making indecent images of children.

During the investigation, police searched Ul Islam's computer and discovered more than 30,000 pornographic images, many of which were indecent images of children. This evidence further highlighted the extent of his paedophilic activities. The case was heard at Snaresbrook Crown Court, where Judge David Pitman described Ul Islam as a danger to the public and a risk to children, emphasising the need to protect other young boys from him.

Acting Detective Inspector Chris Robson, from the child abuse investigation team in Woodford, east London, commented on the case: 'Harfiz Ul Islam groomed two young boys and their family using his knowledge of the Islamic faith. The judge recognised the need to protect other young boys against him and this was reflected in the sentence given.' The sentencing reflects the severity of the offences and Ul Islam's ongoing risk to society.

Source: BBC News, 27 April 2005.