UK Sufi Cleric Pir Hassan Haseeb-ur-Rehman Condemns Grooming Gangs, Calls for Toughest Legal Action
Prominent Sufi religious scholar Pir Muhammad Hassan Haseeb-ur-Rehman has strongly condemned grooming gangs and child sexual exploitation, declaring that individuals involved in such crimes have no connection with the teachings of Islam and should face the strictest punishment available under the law.
During a six-week tour across the United Kingdom, Pir Hassan addressed nearly 50 large religious gatherings in London, the Midlands, Yorkshire and Scotland. Speaking to thousands of worshippers, he repeatedly urged Muslim communities to reject criminality in all its forms and to cooperate with authorities in reporting offenders, regardless of their religion, ethnicity or family background.
Associated with Eidgah Sharif in Rawalpindi, one of Pakistan’s leading Sufi spiritual centres, Pir Hassan is widely respected for his religious and spiritual lectures in Pakistan and abroad. The institution also has a significant following among British Muslims.
In an interview, the cleric said he had raised the issue of grooming gangs at around 43 religious events, emphasizing that Muslims should be among the first to condemn those responsible for sexual exploitation, drug trafficking, organized crime and extremism.
“Muslims need to condemn grooming gangs without hesitation. Such criminals have absolutely no connection with Islam,” he said, adding that anyone who exploits children deserves justice irrespective of whether they are Muslim, Pakistani or belong to any other community.
Pir Hassan also warned against remaining silent when wrongdoing occurs within one’s own community. He argued that protecting offenders because of shared religious or ethnic identity only encourages injustice and makes society complicit in crime.
Describing grooming and child sexual abuse as crimes against Islam, humanity and the law, he stressed that Islamic teachings offer no justification for the abuse or exploitation of children. He called for perpetrators to receive the punishment they deserve, sending a clear message that religious identity can never serve as a shield for criminal behaviour.
The scholar further acknowledged that criminals who happen to be Muslim—including grooming gang members, drug dealers and extremists—have damaged the reputation of the wider Muslim community. At the same time, he noted that serious crimes are not exclusive to any single religion or ethnic group, and should be addressed through justice rather than prejudice.
Highlighting the freedoms enjoyed by Muslims in the United Kingdom, Pir Hassan encouraged British Muslims to respond by becoming responsible, peaceful and law-abiding citizens. He said the right to practice one’s faith should be matched with respect for the country’s laws and a commitment to contributing positively to society.
He concluded by urging Muslims to treat people of all faiths with kindness, respect and integrity, saying that the true values of Islam are reflected through peace, humanity, trustworthiness and moral responsibility in everyday life.
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