I was sexually assaulted by an imam. He told me he had supernatural powers

"“Aria” was 13 years old when she was sexually assaulted by an imam, who told her he was “healing” her. A respected faith leader at a mosque in East London, Abdul Halim Khan would tell young girls and their parents they needed “curing” from “bad spirits”. After attacking them, he warned the girls that if they told anyone about the abuse, the so-called cure would be undone, they would be cursed, or that harm would come to them and their families from black magic."

"“I genuinely believed he had supernatural powers,” says Aria, which is not her real name. She says Khan told her “something really bad would happen to me and my family” if she ever spoke about the abuse. And she wasn't the only one. Khan abused seven women and girls over 11 years in the same way. His youngest victim was just 12."

"He would convince them to meet in isolated locations - such as a flat or a car. There, he would rape or sexually abuse them while pretending to be a Jinn, a supernatural spirit. Khan chose vehicles with tinted windows, gave one victim a phone so he could contact her, and encouraged another to climb out of her bedroom window to meet him."

"It was Aria's mother who introduced her to Khan, after she began getting into trouble at school. She told her the imam would give her advice. When they met, Khan told her to get into his car. “That's when he touched me inappropriately,” says Aria. “I had my eyes closed and he said there are going to be things that are knocking on the car window. And I did hear those knocks. But obviously I was 13 years old, I was terrified.”"

A faith leader in East London sexually assaulted girls and women over more than a decade while presenting himself as having supernatural powers. He told victims and their parents that he could “cure” them from “bad spirits,” and warned that disclosure would undo the “cure,” bring curses, or cause harm through black magic. He arranged meetings in isolated locations such as flats and cars, sometimes using tinted windows and controlling contact. He raped and sexually abused victims while pretending to be a jinn, a supernatural spirit. Victims described fear and belief in his supposed powers. He was convicted of multiple rapes and sexual assaults and received a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years.

Read at www.bbc.com