Imam tells court he has never touched a child in a sexual way

AN IMAM accused of sexually assaulting young girls at the mosque where he taught said he has “never” touched a child in a sexual manner.

Mohammed Saddique, 81, denies 15 counts of indecent and sexual assault which were alleged to have happened at the Madina Mosque in Cardiff where he taught for more than 30 years.

The allegations involve four complainants and are alleged to have taken place between 1996 and 2006.

Taking to the witness box at his trial at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday, Saddique was asked by his defence barrister Caroline Rees about his involvement with the Madina Mosque.

Saddique, speaking through an interpreter, said he was a member of the mosque’s committee and was also a guarantor, as well as a teacher of the Koran to students having taught there from 1971 until 2006.

He said he could not remember the ages of the children he taught or what their names were.

The defendant said when teaching, children would sit opposite each other on the floor and he would sit on a bench in the front where he asked students to come forward and read passages of the Koran, sometimes children would sit on the left hand side bench alongside him.

Saddique said: “The children used to come in the class, they would sit down and I would give them 10 minutes to revise.

“Then I was going to ask them to read the lesson”

Ms Rees asked her client about the allegations made against him.

She said: “It’s alleged you touched each of the four complainants sexually during the course of teaching them.

“Have you ever touched any children you were teaching in a sexual manner?” Saddique said he had not. Ms Rees added: “Have you ever touched any children you were teaching to the breast or chest area?” Saddique said he had not. The defence barrister said: “Have you ever touched any children you were teaching between their legs?” The defendant said he had not. Ms Rees said: “Apart from tapping them on the back, have you had any cause to touch any children on the body?” Saddique said: “No, never.” It was also put to the defendant that he had been accused of using a stick to touch children with, but he denied ever having such a stick.

Ms Rees asked Saddique if there were any difficulties among groups of people involved Mosque.

The defendant said there were difficulties but these did not involve him personally.

Concluding her case, Ms Rees asked Saddique again if he had touched any of his students in a sexual manner. He replied: “Never”. The trial continues. in the Madina