Imam guilty of historic sexual abuse in Newham

THE FAMILY trusted Hafiz Azizur Rehman Pirzada, 76, of Laughton Road, Northolt, when they appointed him to teach their two girls about the Quran. He did not live up to that trust – and now, belatedly, he will pay the price.

Pirzada taught the two sisters about the Quran at various sessions at an address in Newham between 2007 and 2009, when they were aged between nine and eleven. In July 2015 the sisters came forward and told the police that Pirzada had sexually abused them during these sessions.

Pirzada was arrested a year later and in March 2018 he was eventually charged in March 2018 with eight counts of sexual assault on a female under 13 and two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity. Last month, he was found guilty after a hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court. He will return to the Court later this month for sentencing.

Detective Sergeant Tony Killeen from the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Team said, “This is a case stemming back ten years, but despite the length of time since the incidents Pirzada has been convicted of his crimes. The victims have shown a great degree of courage, persistence and determination in securing the conviction, having persevered with the allegation and supporting the police investigation.

“The victims have had to live with this trauma and the absolutely horrendous abuse they endured for the years they were under the control of Pirzada and will have to live with these memories for the rest of their lives. Pirzada used his level of trust as a religious leader to assault the girls.

DS Killeen went on to urge anyone else who has been a victim of Pirzada to contact them and promised that anyone coming forward would be taken seriously and supported.

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