Prominent Muslim community leader charged with rape

Farooq Siddique, a former government adviser and prominent Muslim community leader has appeared in court charged with a number of rapes and assaults against the same woman.

A former government adviser and prominent Muslim community leader has been charged with a number of rapes and assaults

Farooq Siddique, who has previously advised the government on tackling extremism, has been charged with three counts of rape, two of assault causing actual bodily harm and making a threat to kill.

The 46-year-old was regional manager of a nationwide programme to tackle radicalisation and extremism and was also a Muslim university chaplain and a Sunday school teacher.

Mr Siddique took part in a number of documentaries and was spokesman for the Bristol Muslim Cultural Society who regularly commented on Islamic issues.

Mr Siddique, who is a management consultant from Easton, Bristol, is due to appear before the city's magistrates later this month.

No details of the allegations have been made public.

We can confirm that Farooq Siddique has been charged with three counts of rape, one count of threats to kill and two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm.

He is currently on bail and is due before Bristol Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, July 28.

– AVON AND SOMERSET POLICE

Mr Siddique's solicitor says he strongly denies all the allegations.