IMAM 'MARRIED A DEAF MUTE FOR UK PASSPORT'

A FOREIGN- BORN Islamic preacher is accused today of marrying a London woman with the mental age of seven in order to live in the UK.
The bride's family, which is planning to sue the imam for abandoning his wife, has criticised the Home Office for its failure to deport the cleric.Mohammed Anhar Ali, who is from a village in Bangladesh, was granted indefinite leave to remain after the arranged marriage. A legal dossier on the case reveals attempts by the bride's local MP Jim Fitzpatrick, and even her social worker, to get the imam thrown out. Mr Ali,36, had an arranged marriage in Bangladesh with Bilqis Begum,28, from Poplar, east London. She is deaf and mute, has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and has severe learning disabilities.Mr Ali disappeared in September 2004, having secured indefinite leave to remain the previous year. Now Ms Begum's father Muhammed Abdul Matin is trying to sue Mr Ali, thought to be living in St Albans, while also attempting to have him deported. Mr Matin,53, said: "He has used my disabled child to enter the UK."I want ot see him sent back to Bangladesh. We want justice. He is not a holy man. What he has done to my family and my child has ruined everything." Ms Begum's parents had hoped the imam, who was highly regarded in Bangladesh for his ability to recite the whole of the Koran, would provide their daughter with the care she needed.But Mr Alis' friends defended him. Rukshana Begum,30, said Mr Ali had not been told of all his wife's problems-only that she was deaf. She added he was granted leave to remain in 2003 but did not leave his wife until a year later.