26 November 2025
A 71-year-old former Islamic teacher has been jailed for 12 years for sexual assaults against children.
Hafez Ashraf Uddin, who worked in Ipswich, was found guilty of 13 counts of indecent assault, relating to six girls, aged between seven and 14, between 1985 and 1999.
Uddin, of Wivenhoe Road in Barking in east London, was convicted after a four-week trial at Ipswich Crown Court in June.
Det Insp Donna Hopper, of the force’s south safeguarding investigation unit, said he “abused the respected position of trust he held in the community and subjected these young girls to shocking assaults – some of them on multiple occasions”.
‘Long-lasting impacts’
Uddin had been charged with 22 counts of indecent assault in total relating to seven girls, but was found not guilty for nine of them.
Police said some of the counts included multiple offences.
Uddin was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and was made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Officers said they had been working with partners to ensure anyone with concerns could access advice and support.
“These assaults have had long-lasting impacts on the victims, who did not feel able or confident to report them at the time for a number of reasons,” added Det Insp Hopper.
“I hope this case demonstrates that despite the passage of time, it is never too late to achieve justice.”
Why Muslims say sex offenders still goto heaven
I came to the Apostle (may peace be upon him ) and he was asleep with a white mantle over him. I again came, he was still asleep, I came again and he had awakened. I sat by his side and (the Holy Prophet) observed: There is none among the bondsmen who affirmed his faith in La illaha ill-Allah there is no God but Allah) and died in this state and did not enter Paradise. I (Abu Dharr) said: Even if he committed adultery and theft? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: (Yes) even though he committed adultery and theft. I (again said): Even if he committed adultery and theft? He replied: (Yes) even though he committed adultery and theft. (Th Holy Prophet repeated it three times) and said for the fourth time: In defiance of Abu Dharr. Abu Dharr then went out and he repeated (these words): In defiance of Abu Dharr.
حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ خِرَاشٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَارِثِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنِي حُسَيْنٌ الْمُعَلِّمُ، عَنِ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، أَنَّ يَحْيَى بْنَ يَعْمَرَ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ أَبَا الأَسْوَدِ الدِّيلِيَّ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ أَبَا ذَرٍّ حَدَّثَهُ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ نَائِمٌ عَلَيْهِ ثَوْبٌ أَبْيَضُ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ نَائِمٌ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ وَقَدِ اسْتَيْقَظَ فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ ” مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ قَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ مَاتَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ إِلاَّ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ ” . قُلْتُ وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ قَالَ ” وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ ” . قُلْتُ وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ قَالَ ” وَإِنْ زَنَى وَإِنْ سَرَقَ ” . ثَلاَثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ ” عَلَى رَغْمِ أَنْفِ أَبِي ذَرٍّ ” قَالَ فَخَرَجَ أَبُو ذَرٍّ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ وَإِنْ رَغِمَ أَنْفُ أَبِي ذَرٍّ .
| Reference | : Sahih Muslim 94b |
| In-book reference | : Book 1, Hadith 179 |
| USC-MSA web (English) reference | : Book 1, Hadith 172 |