Former East London Imam Sentenced to Life for Sexual Attacks on Women and Girls

A "cunning" and "manipulative" former imam in east London has been given a life sentence with a minimum prison term of 20 years for a series of sexual attacks on women and girls as young as 12. Abdul Halim Khan, 54, was described as having abused the trust and authority that came with his position to carry out attacks against seven victims from the local Muslim community between 2005 and 2014. [...] "You had a position of significant power and authority, a position you systematically abused for your own base sexual gratification," the judge told the former imam at Snaresbrook Crown Court. [...] One of Khan's victims, who said she was a child when she was abused, tearfully told the court: "To me, Khan is not a human being, he is evil personified." [...] Despite his convictions, the court received letters of support for Khan from his family and some members of the community ahead of sentencing. [...] "Abdul Halim Khan used their deeply held beliefs to instil fear and silence in them, making them believe their families would be at risk if they ever spoke out," said Melissa Garner, specialist prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).