Keighley grooming case: Council of Mosques backs 'zero tolerance' for sex crimes (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Keighley grooming case: Council of Mosques backs 'zero tolerance' for sex crimes

7:00am Thursday 7th March 2013 in News

The Council for Mosques Bradford has called for ‘zero tolerance’ for sexual abuse against women and children following the jailing of Shazad Rehman, 30, and Bilal Hussain, 23, for child rape.

“We, of course are greatly encouraged by the judgement in the trials of two men from West Yorkshire found guilty of drugging, raping and sexually abusing young girls,” a spokesman said.

“We do not expect any leniency for the culprits of these heinous crimes.”

And it called for communities to expose those guilty of similar offences.

“These criminal thugs must have no place to hide in our society,” he added.

Mohammed Mushtaq (left), the president of the Council for Mosques Bradford, said: “We have a collective duty to ensure our young people – particularly our young women – are not manipulated and coerced into abuse by criminal elements amid our communities.

“People can be fearful of retaliation by the criminal gangs. This stops them from coming forward and volunteering information.

“We need to build trust and partnership at the grass root level.”

Mr Mushtaq urged people to have the courage to contact the police with any concerns.

“The criminal gangs generate and exploit fear amongst ordinary law abiding citizens to conceal their criminal activities.”

The Council for Mosques Bradford is working with other agencies on a new consultation report called “Children Do Matter” which pulls together concerns and recommendations social care managers, Imams, teachers, volunteers and parents and is due to be published later this month.