MOHAMMED RABANI, SNEINTON IMAM, JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE ON BOY IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

In a case that has shocked the Nottingham community, Mohammed Rabani, a respected imam from Sneinton, has been sentenced to five years in prison for sexually abusing a young boy over two decades ago. The abuse took place in the attic of a mosque in Nottingham, where Rabani served as an imam for more than 25 years, and the victim was only 12 years old at the time of the assaults.

Rabani, now aged 61, was convicted after a trial at Nottingham Crown Court, where the jury found him guilty of three counts of indecent assault. The incidents occurred between 1990 and 1992, but the victim did not come forward to report the abuse until 2015. Despite denying the charges, Rabani’s guilt was established through the evidence presented during the trial.

The victim, who is now married and a father, delivered a heartfelt impact statement that described Rabani’s actions as “beyond redemption.” He expressed deep disappointment that someone entrusted with spiritual guidance could betray that trust so profoundly. The statement read aloud in court highlighted how the community had placed their faith in Rabani, and how children, including himself, looked up to him as a figure of authority and trust.

He stated, “People entrusted their children to him,” and “Children trusted him.” The victim also criticized Rabani’s continued denial of the allegations, asserting, “I trusted him but he betrayed my trust and continues to betray the trust of everyone in the community by continuing to deny what he did to me.” He concluded with a poignant remark: “To claim to be a man of God – but actually be an abuser of children – is beyond redemption. Only God can forgive him.”

Rabani, who was known as a twice-married and respected imam, had previously claimed that the allegations were fabricated due to a dispute over a family’s plan to redevelop the mosque. However, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him of three charges of indecent assault, ending a lengthy legal process.

The victim’s statement revealed that Rabani targeted him because of his shy and reserved nature, which made him more vulnerable. He explained that Rabani exploited his position of trust within the community, acting as a father figure to many, including himself. The victim recounted that even his own family was skeptical of his claims, and that fear and community pressure kept him silent for years.

He described a childhood marked by fear, with beatings at home and at the mosque being commonplace. This environment contributed to his silence, as he believed that adults, especially figures like Rabani, were always right. The victim also expressed that he believed Rabani’s role as an imam meant that whatever he did was justified, and that he was close to God, which further obscured his understanding of the abuse.

In a related case from May 2018, Rabani was also found guilty of similar offences. During an eight-day trial, he was convicted of three counts of indecent assault on a teenage boy, committed between June 1988 and June 1993, when the victim was aged between 11 and 17. Rabani, who was the imam at the Jamia Masjid Sultana mosque on Thurgaton Street in Sneinton, was accused of abusing the same boy over a five-year period.

Following the verdict, Detective Constable Louise Gorman expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “I am pleased with today’s verdict and hope that it gives the victim a sense of closure. The victim and witnesses have shown significant courage in speaking out against Rabani, who held a position of power within the mosque. Their bravery and determination over the last three years have been instrumental in achieving justice.”