An Islamic religion teacher is accused of sexually abusing at least eight children in Germany. According to the prosecution, the 35-year-old is suspected of having abused boys in a student dormitory in Giengen an der Brenz, Baden-Württemberg, while working there, committing as many as 27 offences against at least eight victims between 2021 and 2024.
According to media reports, the allegations range from severe sexual abuse of minors to rape and bodily harm. In some cases, he choked the victims—children and adolescents aged 12 to 17—to the point of unconsciousness.
The Islamic scholar, a German citizen, is currently on trial at the Ellwangen Regional Court on charges of serious sexual abuse and the mistreatment of minors. The suspect worked as a so-called ‘hoca’, a religious scholar who teaches children and adults the Arabic language, how to read the Quran, and the basics of Islam. He also serves as a point of contact for religious and personal questions within the community.
‘Some children were choked to the point of unconsciousness’
Media reports say that the suspect is alleged to have lured the victims into his office, organizing movie nights, and to have abused them there on multiple occasions. He allegedly forced them to undergo massages and perform sexual acts, including oral sex, according to the prosecutor. In doing so, he is alleged to have emphasized and exploited his position as a religious authority. He pressured the children, thereby silencing them.
Physical abuse is also among the charges. According to the allegations, some children were choked to the point of unconsciousness. The trained educator is alleged to have inflicted pain on the boys and taken pleasure in it, the indictment further states.
The suspect has been in pretrial detention since mid-January. At the start of the trial, his defence attorney announced that he would address the allegations—though he did so behind closed doors. There are currently eight trial days scheduled for the case. The children testified behind closed doors on 17 April. A verdict could be handed down in May.
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