THE imam of a Stoke-on-Trent mosque has appeared before a court accused of committing serious sexual offences with two young boys.
Mohammed Hanif Khan, aged 41, is a leader at the Capper Street Mosque, in Tunstall. Yesterday he appeared before North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court, sitting in Fenton, to be charged with five offences.
The defendant is accused of the attempted rape and sexual assault of a 15-year-old boy in Meir last year.
He is further accused of three counts of rape on a boy under the age of 13 last year in Tunstall.
Prior to outlining the prosecution case to the magistrates, prosecutor Paul Moore said: "This is a very sensitive case.
"He is an imam at the Capper Street, Mosque, in Tunstall. He commands enormous power and respect in the community.
"Not only is he a figure of respect in this area, but he is a figure of respect outside this area because of his teachings."
As the charges were read and a brief outline of the facts given to the court, Khan, who wore a white shirt and black suit, listened intently from the dock in court one.
Mr Moore asked the court to remand the defendant, who gave his address as Bardsley Close, Ellesmere Port, in custody.
Emma Wiseman, defending, told the magistrates that the allegations against her client were denied.
She said Khan had been on bail for some considerable time while the matters had been investigated.
Miss Wiseman said the defendant had co-operated with the police and complied with bail conditions.
The case lasted for 35 minutes and Khan was remanded in custody to appear at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court for a preliminary hearing there on February 15.
According to his website, Khan became the first ever full-time Islamic Minister in the history of the British prison service in 2001.
He further progressed in introducing and setting up religious initiatives by becoming the first Muslim and non-Christian multi-faith co-ordinator of the British prison service in 2003.
In 2004 he visited Buckingham Palace to receive a Butlers' Trust Award from Princess Anne for his work in multi-faith and diversity.
He is patron and founder of Hizb ur Rasool (HUR), a charity dealing with youth issues and the propagation of Islam.
In 2008, the imam was among a group of business and community leaders drawn together to transform politics in Stoke-on-Trent.
He was appointed to the Governance Transition Board, a body tasked with making radical changes to the way the city is run.
Mohammed Hanif Khan, aged 41, is a leader at the Capper Street Mosque, in Tunstall. Yesterday he appeared before North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court, sitting in Fenton, to be charged with five offences.
The defendant is accused of the attempted rape and sexual assault of a 15-year-old boy in Meir last year.
He is further accused of three counts of rape on a boy under the age of 13 last year in Tunstall.
Prior to outlining the prosecution case to the magistrates, prosecutor Paul Moore said: "This is a very sensitive case.
"He is an imam at the Capper Street, Mosque, in Tunstall. He commands enormous power and respect in the community.
"Not only is he a figure of respect in this area, but he is a figure of respect outside this area because of his teachings."
As the charges were read and a brief outline of the facts given to the court, Khan, who wore a white shirt and black suit, listened intently from the dock in court one.
Mr Moore asked the court to remand the defendant, who gave his address as Bardsley Close, Ellesmere Port, in custody.
Emma Wiseman, defending, told the magistrates that the allegations against her client were denied.
She said Khan had been on bail for some considerable time while the matters had been investigated.
Miss Wiseman said the defendant had co-operated with the police and complied with bail conditions.
The case lasted for 35 minutes and Khan was remanded in custody to appear at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court for a preliminary hearing there on February 15.
According to his website, Khan became the first ever full-time Islamic Minister in the history of the British prison service in 2001.
He further progressed in introducing and setting up religious initiatives by becoming the first Muslim and non-Christian multi-faith co-ordinator of the British prison service in 2003.
In 2004 he visited Buckingham Palace to receive a Butlers' Trust Award from Princess Anne for his work in multi-faith and diversity.
He is patron and founder of Hizb ur Rasool (HUR), a charity dealing with youth issues and the propagation of Islam.
In 2008, the imam was among a group of business and community leaders drawn together to transform politics in Stoke-on-Trent.
He was appointed to the Governance Transition Board, a body tasked with making radical changes to the way the city is run.
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