LIAQAT MAHMOOD FROM OLDHAM SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN
In September 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving Liaqat Mahmood, a respected Quran scholar based in Oldham, who was convicted of sexually abusing two young children under his care.Mahmood, aged 48 and residing on Tamworth Street in Oldham, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison after being found guilty of seven counts of indecent assault during a trial.
Mahmood had migrated to the United Kingdom from Pakistan in the 1990s.
His reputation as a scholar of the Quran led many parents within his community to entrust him with the education of their children.
Over time, he began conducting classes that could include as many as 20 children at a time.
However, beneath this facade of religious instruction, troubling allegations surfaced regarding his conduct towards two of his young pupils.
The victims, both under the age of 10 when the abuse commenced, recounted that Mahmood would often take them into a separate room away from the other children.
It was in these private settings that he would kiss them and engage in inappropriate touching, actions that caused significant distress and trauma to the young victims.
The case drew considerable attention due to Mahmood’s respected standing in the community and the serious nature of the crimes committed.
Following the trial, the court sentenced Mahmood to a prison term of five and a half years, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the breach of trust involved in his position as an educator and religious figure.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and the devastating impact of abuse by those entrusted with their care.
