A victim of the Rochdale grooming gang has voiced deep fears for her safety and that of her children following the impending release of the operation's ringleader, Shabir Ahmed. Ahmed, 73, who was convicted in 2012 of 30 child rapes and sentenced to concurrent terms of 19 and 22 years, is scheduled for release on Thursday after serving 14 years.

Victims were informed via letter that Ahmed would be released and, contrary to their previous understanding, would not be deported. Instead, he will remain in the UK under strict restrictions. One survivor, identified as Ruby, told BBC Newsnight that the prospect of Ahmed being released into the community is terrifying, especially given a past incident where she encountered another abuser in a supermarket without knowing he had been released.

"I was 12 years old when this started and still getting failed," Ruby stated. "There are broken victims because of a broken system. I am scared for my safety and my children’s safety."

Ahmed, who was identified as a ringleader by prosecutors, was among nine men convicted of sexual offenses against multiple children whom they groomed at two takeaway restaurants in Rochdale. He had abused one victim for over a decade, treating her as a "possession."

Release Conditions and Legal Obstacles

Ahmed's release conditions include an exclusion zone covering the entire borough of Rochdale until June 10, 2034. He will be housed in supervised accommodation with 24-hour staff supervision. While he will be barred from returning to the UK if he leaves, he cannot be deported to Pakistan because he has renounced his citizenship. This situation is compounded by a clause in the 1971 Immigration Act, which protects Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK before 1973 from deportation.

Ruby questioned the continued adherence to legislation enacted 55 years ago, emphasizing that victims were promised deportation for all convicted individuals, a promise that has not been fulfilled. "We need these laws to be updated. Laws need to change, and victims need to be heard," she urged.

Two other individuals convicted in the Rochdale grooming cases, Qari Abdul Rauf and Adil Khan, have already been released but also cannot be deported due to the same immigration provisions. Adil Khan has reportedly absconded, with no updates provided to victims.

Victim and Official Reactions

Former Greater Manchester Police detective Maggie Oliver commented that victims have consistently felt like an "afterthought" in the justice process. "I think that they're outraged and they're frightened," Oliver said. "This has been 20 years of her life... and she is quite rightly scared, but feels that she is once again an afterthought."

A Home Office spokesperson expressed that their thoughts are with the victims of these crimes, acknowledging the horrific nature of Ahmed's offenses. The spokesperson detailed that upon release, Ahmed will be on the sex offender's register for life, subject to strict curfews, exclusion zones, and electronic tagging. Any breach of his conditions would result in immediate re-imprisonment. They also stated he will be ordered to stay away from his victims and banned from contacting any child or young person.

Ruby's statement highlighted a perceived lack of support for victims, including the absence of a promised dedicated support team. She stated that victims are often left to cope alone, and that mental health issues are exacerbated by the treatment they receive. "The system is broken, yet they blame it on mental health, when our mental health is so messed up because of how victims are treated -- again, with no support when abusers are released from prison," she said.