‘Mosque teacher’ accused of sexually assaulting child during Quran lessons in garden shed as jury deliberates
A Birmingham man who taught Quran lessons from a garden shed is awaiting a jury’s verdict after being accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a child under 13. Abdul Haq, 42, of Bordesley Green, denies all allegations and insists the claims are fabricated.
Prosecutors allege the abuse took place between 2017 and 2020, during one‑to‑one religious lessons held inside a converted shed at the rear of Haq’s home. The court heard that the child attended sessions several times a week and later disclosed that the alleged assaults happened on ten or more occasions.
Haq, a tyre fitter with no previous convictions, was described as a trusted figure within the local community. The court was told he had been teaching Quran recitation informally for several years, with parents dropping children off at the property for lessons.
Prosecution case
Opening the case, the Crown said the child had given a “clear, consistent and compelling” account of what happened inside the shed and, on some occasions, inside rooms of the house. Jurors heard that the child described feeling “scared and confused” and did not initially tell anyone due to fear of not being believed.
The prosecution argued that the alleged pattern of behaviour showed “opportunistic targeting” of a child in a setting where Haq held authority and trust.
Police later examined Haq’s home and devices. Officers found security cameras installed in 2018, but they were not recording. No indecent images were recovered from his phone or computer.
Defence case
Haq took the stand to deny every allegation. He told jurors he had “never touched any child inappropriately” and suggested the complainant may have been upset after he raised his voice during lessons.
His barrister argued that the allegations were “impossible to reconcile with the evidence” and said the lack of forensic or digital findings supported Haq’s innocence. The defence also highlighted his previously clean record and the absence of concerns raised by other families.
Haq said he had continued teaching until the allegations surfaced, insisting he had “nothing to hide”.
Jury deliberations underway
After closing speeches, the judge directed the jury on the law surrounding sexual assault and the need to reach a verdict based solely on the evidence presented.
Jurors were sent out to deliberate and will return with a verdict in due course.
The case has drawn attention due to the unusual teaching setting — a garden shed described in court as a “mosque” — and the seriousness of the allegations. As proceedings remain active, reporting restrictions continue to apply and no commentary on the child or identifying details can be published.
What happens next
The jury will continue deliberations until a verdict is reached. If jurors cannot agree, the judge may accept a majority verdict or discharge the panel, leaving prosecutors to decide whether to seek a retrial.
TrueNorth will publish updates as soon as the court releases them.