- Zafar Iqbal, 67, guilty of 25 counts of historic sex abuse against three girls
- Victims were under age of 14 when attacks took place in 1970s and 1980s
- Iqbal headed council-funded Southwark Muslim Women’s Association
Jailed: Zafar Iqbal, 67, molested and groped three girls, all under the age of 14, in south London in the 1970s and 80s
The chief executive of a Muslim women’s association has been jailed for sexually abusing three young girls in south London in the 1970s and 80s.
Zafar Iqbal, 67, molested and groped the girls, all under the age of 14, on several occasions, but the abuse only came to light in 2010.
The attacks saw the charity chief take the young girls to addresses in Peckham where he would force his tongue into their mouths as he molested and groped them, a court heard.
Iqbal, who set up the council-funded Southwark Muslim Women’s Association in 1979, has been sentenced to seven and a half years in jail after being found guilty of 25 counts of sexual abuse earlier this year.
The charity aims to support women, children and the elderly in a range of activities, including learning English, and still lists Iqbal as the main contact on the Charity Commission website.
His work included running a creche and educational and recreational programmes and it is believed his wife Abida also worked for the charity.
As part of his work Iqbal was introduced to The Queen and rubbed shoulders with Deputy Prime Minister Harriet Harman.
The sex attacks took place in the late 1970s and early 1980s and only ended when Iqbal got married and moved away.
However the council only informed police in 2012 when the abuse allegations surfaced.
Iqbal was arrested and interviewed by detectives from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command (SOECA) before being charged with 45 counts of indecent assault in August 2013.
After a trial he was found guilty of twenty five charges of sexual abuse against his victims who were all under 14.
He was jailed for seven and a half years and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for his whole life after being sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court yesterday.
Detective Constable Martin Sharp, of the SOECA, said: ‘I would like to take this opportunity to praise the three young women that Iqbal abused and highlight their courage in coming forwarding and reporting to the police Iqbal’s crimes.
‘The support they gave the investigating officers during this investigation was instrumental bringing Iqbal to justice today.
Attacker: Zafar Iqbal founded the council-funded Southwark Muslim Women's Association in 1979, which today operated from a south London address, and is still listed as the contact for the charity
‘Zafar Iqbal no doubt thought the passage of time meant that he had escaped justice for the appalling offences he committed against three small children. I hope that his conviction and sentence gives other victims of sexual abuse confidence to come forward.’
A Southwark Council spokesperson said: ‘He worked for the charity for a number of years. It helps Muslims with a range of things, including learning English.
‘We are appalled by this man’s actions and we are undertaking an urgent review of Southwark Muslim Women’s Association and its association with the council.’
The council informed police after allegations of Iqbal’s abuse surfaced in 2010, it added.
The spokesman added: ‘Southwark Muslim Women’s Association is an independent organisation funded from many sources, including the council.
The convictions are not related to activities on the premises of the organisation.’
The Met said it began investigations in late 2012 after one of Iqbal’s victims came forward. Previous allegations were anonymous and so the force was unable to pursue them.
Rubbing shoulders: This blurry image shows convicted sex offender Iqbal meeting Harriet Harman in 2009
In the financial year ending March 2013, the Southwark Muslim Women’s Association (SMWA) had an income of just under £386,000. Iqbal had been on sick leave from the charity during that year.
In the annual report he wrote: ‘It has been a frustrating year for me personally. The SMWA has been part of my life for more than 30 years so to be away from work due to ill health has been very difficult.’
Just five years ago, Iqbal was feted for his ‘excellence in education’ at The Muslim News Awards for Excellence.
He was introduced to the Queen in 2010 as part of The City Bridge Trust’s 800th anniversary celebration.
In 2009, Ms Harman, then Deputy Prime Minister, invited Iqbal and other members of the Association to the House of Commons where they were photographed together.
Earlier this year Ms Harman was forced to express ‘regret’ over links between a paedophile group and the National Council of Civil Liberties when she was its legal officer in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Paedophile Information Exchange was an affiliate of the NCCL while she, her husband, trade unionist Jack Dromey, and fellow Labour politician Patricia Hewitt held office there.
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