Muslims Not Being Victimised: Cops, bdnews24 , August 19, 2011

Muslims Not Being Victimised: Cops

bdnews24
August 19, 2011

http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=203768&cid=2

Toronto, Aug 19 (bdnews24.com) – Toronto Police have sought to dispel the fears of the local Bangladeshi community that the Baitul Muqarram Imam is not being targeted as he is a Muslim religious leader.

Bangladeshi-born imam Mohammad Masroor, 48, was arrested on Aug 10 following weeks of police investigation in a case involving sexual abuse of five people, both male and female.

"No one is being victimised," said detective constable Karen Armstrong assuring an anxious Bangladeshi community.

"The only victims are those who are mentioned as actual victims in the police press release," he said referring to the five sexually-abused people, whose identities are being kept a secret in the interest of the investigation.

Armstrong told bdnews24.com that the charges against Masroor date back to November 1, 2008 and July 28 of this year.

Some media reports suggested that he had been under investigation ever since his arrival in the country, but the police moved in early August when they felt the case was strong enough to merit arrest.

Armstrong refused to divulge more saying the investigation could be jeopardized.

People who visit the Baitul Muqarram mosque were shocked at his arrest saying that he was a nice and friendly person.

"I don't believe it," said Mohammad Abdul Halim, who has been a member at this mosque for eight years. "I know he's a good guy. His character is good…all the time."

However, the issue is being treated as a sensitive one since it may become difficult to avoid inter-community tension over the arrest.

In an anti-jihadist site vladtepesblog.com, a reader says, "What I find very interesting is the fact that the Toronto Police are keeping secret the age of the victims. Almost certainly they are underage (certainly the male victims) – why not mention this fact?

"If a priest was involved – or any other non-Muslim male – the very first thing we would learn was the age of the victims followed up with how despicable the crimes are. No such value judgement here.

"But because the accused is a Muslim, they keep this info secret lest he get labelled as a 'pedophile'. It is disgusting to see how Toronto Police treat these Muslim criminals with kid-gloves."