Daily Mail
May 12, 2014
A high-profile Muslim charity leader has been convicted of sexually abusing three young girls in the 1970s and 1980s.
Zafar Iqbal, chief executive of Southwark Muslim Women’s Association (SMWA) in South London, was found guilty of 25 counts of historic sex abuse against three women at Woolwich Crown Court last month.
All of his victims were under the age of 14 when the historic offences were committed.
Documents seen by The Mail on Sunday detail 67-year-old Iqbal’s sickening abuse of his young victims.
They describe how he forced his tongue into their mouths as he molested and groped them.
Iqbal founded the SMWA, which is part-funded by Southwark Council, in 1979.
His work there included running a creche and educational and recreational programmes.
It is believed that his wife, Abida, also worked for the SMWA.
Just five years ago, Iqbal was feted for his ‘excellence in education’ at The Muslim News Awards for Excellence.
In the course of his work he rubbed shoulders with politicians such as Labour Deputy Leader Harriet Harman and was introduced to the Queen in 2010 as part of The City Bridge Trust’s 800th anniversary celebration.
In 2009, Ms Harman, then Deputy Prime Minister, invited Iqbal and other members of the Association to the House of Commons where they were photographed together.