Muslim Leaders Deliver Anti-Grooming Sermon

Hundreds of thousands of Muslims have been warned their communities face a "major challenge" after the sentencing of a paedophile ring.

A sermon delivered at around 500 mosques across the UK asked Muslims to "shun evil, wrongdoing and all forms of indecent and immoral behaviour" as taught by the Koran.

Organised by not-for-profit group Together Against Grooming (Tag) , it warned of a backlash as a result of cases of sexual grooming involving mainly men of a Pakistani or South Asian background.

"We wholeheartedly condemn the disgraceful actions of those involved in these cases and welcome the convictions in the cases that have been through the courts," the sermon said.

"We wish to show our support for the madhloom (victims) of this terrible crime, many of whom are innocent children, and we wish to affirm that Islam as a religion of mercy and compassion places a strong obligation on safeguarding and protecting the weak and vulnerable from dhulm (oppression) and abuse, particularly of women and children."

Congregations were told to report any suspicious behaviour or suspected sexual grooming to the authorities.

The sermon continued: "If you need any motivation other than it is the right and Islamic thing to do, just consider this - what if it was your daughter and someone you knew had not taken that step?

"If you report it, you will have stopped an evil deed ... and protected a young person from harm."

The sermon comes after five members of a seven-man sadistic paedophile ring found guilty of grooming vulnerable underage girls were given life sentences at the Old Bailey .

Two other defendants were both jailed for seven years.

Tag spokesman Ansar Ali said his group had been "horrified" by the case and said Muslims feel "a natural responsibility to condemn and tackle this crime".

"Sexual grooming and child abuse afflicts all sections of society and is perpetrated by people of all ethnic groups," he said.

"The Koran and traditions of our Prophet exhort us to act against evil and injustice, and create just societies.

"This is the start of what will be a nationwide project in which we seek to work with others to eradicate this practice from all communities."

Friday is a religious day for Muslims and consists of the Jummah Salah - or midday prayer - a particularly significant part of the Islamic week which sees hundreds of thousands of Muslims up and down the country visiting their local mosques to hear the Khutbah, or sermon.

"Friday prayers are very important for every Muslim ... and through the sermon and the message they get from the imam, they make their beliefs," Mohammed Sajad, an imam at a mosque in Sparkhill, Birmingham, told Sky News.

"They believe that what is said by the imam is true guidance for them.

"This is a very strong message and it will have an effect."

The Tag campaign has been backed by leading Muslim organisations including the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), the Mosque and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB), the Islamic Society of Britain (ISB) and independent mosques.