ILFORD ISLAMIC TEACHER BASHIR SULEMAN GUILTY OF MOLESTATION AT HIS PARENTS' HOME

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the Ilford community, Bashir Suleman, a 30-year-old Islamic studies teacher, was found guilty of sexually abusing two young pupils at a madrassa established within his parents' residence. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of abuse that spanned from 1997 to 1998, with Suleman exploiting the trust placed in him by vulnerable children.

According to court records, Suleman, who resided on Mafeking Avenue in Ilford, subjected one of the young girls to inappropriate acts, including forcing her to touch him while she was engaged in prayer. The court heard that the abuse took place at his family’s home on Balfour Road, where he was acting as an Islamic religious instructor during that period. Despite his denials of targeting the children, the jury convicted him of two counts of assault, emphasizing the gravity of his misconduct.

Prosecutor Bernard Eaton addressed the jury, describing Suleman’s actions as taking “outrageous advantage” of the innocence and trust of his young victims. The court was told that Suleman had been working as a teacher at his family’s madrassa from August 1996 until March 1998. The victims, who did not come forward immediately, only revealed their experiences many years later. One of the girls confided in a teacher at her secondary school, which eventually led to the case being brought to court.

During sentencing, Judge John Lafferty expressed his condemnation of Suleman’s actions. He stated, “Even though you don’t acknowledge your guilt, you must bitterly regret succumbing to your impulses when you were 16 and 17. Your younger victim was very young at the time, and I regard the offences against her as being particularly serious.” The judge ordered Suleman to sign the sex offenders’ register for a period of five years and imposed a lifelong ban on working with children and vulnerable adults.

Suleman’s legal representative, barrister Miranda Moore QC, highlighted the personal toll of the conviction, noting that Suleman had lost his reputation within the community he had served for over 13 years. She also mentioned the impact on his personal life, including the loss of an opportunity to marry. Suleman was convicted of indecency with a child and indecent assault but was acquitted of more serious charges, including two counts of rape, attempted rape, and five counts of indecent assault, all related to the same victims.