A woman using the name Aria has spoken about the abuse she suffered at the age of 13 by an imam in East London. She says the man convinced her that he had special powers and was offering spiritual healing.
Claims of spiritual healing used as control
Aria describes how the imam told her and other girls that they needed spiritual cleansing from bad spirits. She says he used this belief to gain trust from families in the community.
He then abused the girls during what he presented as healing sessions. Aria says she believed his claims about supernatural power at the time.
Fear and threats used to silence victims
According to Aria, the imam warned her that speaking out would bring harm to her and her family. He claimed that curses and negative spiritual consequences would follow if she told anyone.
This fear kept her silent for years. She says she truly believed something dangerous would happen if she reported the abuse.
Multiple victims over several years
Reports say the same man abused several girls over a period of about eleven years. The youngest victim was around 12 years old.
The abuse followed a similar pattern in each case, with trust built through religious authority and fear used to maintain silence.
Impact on survivors
Aria says the experience left long term emotional harm. She now speaks out to help others understand how authority and belief can be misused.
