Lawyers for Imam Accused of Sex Abuse Await Possible New Indictment

By George Houde
Chicago Tribune
October 29, 2015

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-elgin-imam-court-met-1030-20151029-story.html

Mohammed Abdullah Saleem, left, founder of the Institute of Islamic Education boarding school, leaves Cook County Circuit Court in Rolling Meadows on Feb. 17, 2015, after being charged in connection with allegations that he groped a 23-year-old woman working at his school. Saleem also was charged Oct. 7, 2015, with criminal sexual abuse based on allegations that he abused a woman when she was a student at his school. (Anthony Souffle, Chicago Tribune)

Another indictment against a well-known Muslim leader accused of sexual abuse is expected next month, his defense attorneys said after his appearance Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court.

Mohammed Abdullah Saleem, founder of the Institute of Islamic Education in Elgin, appeared before Judge Joseph Cataldo, three weeks after the imam was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a girl who was his student at the time.

An attorney for Saleem, who had previously been charged with sexually abusing a woman who worked for him at the school, said she expects the new indictment to relate to the allegations already made by the former student, who is now an adult.

But the attorney, Huma Rashid, said the defense team is prepared to fight any additional allegations, should they arise.

"Our position is that even if and when another person comes out and reports the same false accusations, we will continue to fight them," she said outside court.

The latest charge against Saleem alleges that he sexually abused a female student multiple times at the school between 2001 and 2003, starting shortly after she enrolled at the school at age 14.

The earlier charges, also still pending, involve allegations that Saleem groped a woman in her 20s in 2013 and 2014.

Saleem, 76, has posted bail totaling $125,000 and remains free as he awaits trial.

As has become common at his court appearances, Thursday's hearing was attended by two groups from the Elgin Muslim community Saleem led for decades, one in support of the imam and one backing his accusers.

Those who support the alleged victims wore red ribbons.

"Nobody condones this kind of behavior," said Akram Bhatti, one member of that group.

The group obtained copies of motions filed in the initial case by the defense that some critics called scare tactics. The motions seek, among other requests, to obtain employment records of the alleged victim and to have her full name used in court proceedings.