MAHMOOD QADRI FROM MANCHESTER AND EDINBURGH SENTENCED FOR ABUSE AT POLWARTH MOSQUE

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Edinburgh and Manchester, Mahmood Qadri, a 60-year-old man, was sentenced to seven years in prison for the sexual abuse of two young girls during religious lessons at Polwarth Mosque in Edinburgh. The conviction follows a detailed trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, where the court heard disturbing accounts of the abuse that took place over several years.

According to court records, Qadri, who was responsible for teaching the children the Quran, exploited his position of trust to carry out heinous acts. The victims, now aged 19, recounted that he kissed them and engaged in sexual acts within a bedroom at the mosque. One girl was subjected to this abuse from January 1995 until September 1998, while the other endured similar treatment from January 1997 until the same period, highlighting a prolonged pattern of misconduct.

Qadri, originally from Manchester, had been scheduled to appear in court in 2005 but instead traveled to Pakistan, claiming he needed to undertake charity work. His absence from the UK led to further complications, and he was later detained in Germany in May of the same year. Despite his claims of innocence, the evidence presented in court was compelling enough to secure a conviction.

During sentencing, Judge John Morris QC expressed serious concern about the safety of children and emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals from individuals like Qadri. The court ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders’ register and that he remain under supervision for two years following his release from prison. The case has left a lasting impact on the community, raising questions about safeguarding measures at religious institutions and the importance of vigilance in protecting children from abuse.