Pak-origin rapist in UK allowed access to son born to survivor

: A Pakistan-origin man jailed for 35 years as part of a major rape scandal in Yorkshire has been told he could seek access to the child born to the survivor, who was a minor when he abused her, setting off a major row and demands for a change in law.

Arshid Hussain, one of three brothers who groomed and raped 15 teenage girls, also known as ‘Mad Ash’, was convicted in 2016. The three were described in court as a “pack of animals”. Their uncle, Qurban Ali, was also jailed. The rape survivor waived her anonymity on Wednesday to say she is devastated to learn that the Rotherham Council told Hussain that he could seek access to the child he fathered, terming him “a danger to myself and to other children”.

She told BBC: “We're constantly being revictimised and as a rape victim I’m constantly told ‘well actually, he’s got his human rights’. What about my human rights? What about other people’s human rights and our children and our right to constantly have to keep our children safe?”

She called for changes to the 1989 Children's Act to protect others. She added that her son was supporting her and had given his permission for her to speak out.

A ministry of justice statement said: “Courts should consider the potential harm to the child and mother when making this decision.

“This is obviously a very distressing incident and the relevant departments and local authority will work urgently to understand and address the failings in this case.” HTC