Religious scholar Pir Muhammad Hassan Haseeb-ur-Rehman has condemned grooming gangs by the likes of Rochdale rapist Shabir Ahmed, saying those involved in such crimes have no connection with Islam and must face the strongest punishment available under the law. Speaking during an extensive UK tour, where he addressed nearly 50 packed gatherings, the prominent cleric said Muslims must be among the first to condemn and report anyone involved in grooming, sexual exploitation, drugs, criminality or extremism, irrespective of the offender's religion, ethnicity or family background.

Pir Hassan Haseeb-ur-Rehman is associated with Eidgah Sharif in Rawalpindi, one of Pakistan's prominent Sufi religious centres, and is widely known for addressing religious and spiritual gatherings in Pakistan and overseas. The centre has tens of thousands of followers in the UK. In an interview, Pir Hassan said he had repeatedly addressed the grooming-gangs issue during around 43 religious gatherings held over approximately six weeks across London, the Midlands, Yorkshire and Scotland.

He said he found the British Muslim community highly concerned over the coverage of the grooming gang convicts and its implications for the wider community. Pir Hassan Haseeb said the community requested him to highlight the evil of the people involved in crimes against young children. He said the overwhelming majority of those attending many of the gatherings were young British Muslims, making it essential for religious scholars to address not only traditional religious subjects but also the responsibilities Muslims carry as citizens of the countries in which they live.

First and foremost, Muslims need to condemn grooming gangs. We strongly condemn them. They have absolutely no connection with the teachings of Islam, Pir Hassan said, adding that anyone involved in sexually exploiting children must be opposed and punished, regardless of whether they happen to be Muslim, Pakistani or from any other background. If people from within our own community are involved in wrongdoing, they must be opposed. Remaining silent in the face of wrongdoing is, in effect, becoming complicit in it, he said, stressing that Islamic teachings provided no justification for the abuse of children.