2 women who claim Elgin Islamic leader groped them can testify against him

By George Houde
Chicago Tribune
May 25, 2016

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-elgin-imam-sex-abuse-plea-20160525-story.html

Imam Mohammed Abdullah Saleem walks into court in Rolling Meadows on May 25, 2016. Saleem, a prominent imam who founded the Institute of Islamic Education in Elgin, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor. Photo by Stacey Wescott

Two women who say they, too, were groped by an Elgin Islamic leader when they were minors will be allowed to testify at his upcoming trial on charges that he sexually abused two other females, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Mohammed Abdullah Saleem, a prominent imam who founded the Institute of Islamic Education in Elgin, faces charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in two cases, one involving a minor who was a former student and the other involving an adult who worked for him.

Cook County Judge James Karahalios ruled Wednesday that two other women, whose claims date to the 1980s, can testify against Saleem if he goes to trial. That's uncertain, because plea deal talks could get underway between prosecutors the defense attorneys prior to the trial, which is currently scheduled for Sept. 12.

Saleem is not charged in connection with the two women, but the judge said their claims are similar to those of the other two alleged victims.

"I think the jury will benefit from the testimony of these four individuals as to whether it was abuse or a friendly gesture," Karahalios said.

It's not clear if the two new witnesses are among four women who filed a civil suit against the imam, also claiming sexual misconduct.

The imam, who is 77 and a resident of Gilberts, was initially charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, unlawful restraint and aggravated battery stemming from allegations that he groped a 23-year-old woman who was working at the Islamic school at the time.

He was later also charged with abuse of a former student. The new charges were based on allegations that Saleem abused a girl dozens of times between 2001 and 2003 when she was a student at the institute and Saleem was the school's president and principal.

Saleem was trained in a conservative Islamic movement based in India. His attorney said Saleem is a naturalized U.S. citizen who has been married for 55 years and has two daughters, four sons and 19 grandchildren.