Shabir Ahmed, a 73-year-old convicted of 30 child rape offenses and identified as a ringleader in the Rochdale grooming gangs, is scheduled for release from prison on July 2. Despite having his British citizenship revoked during his incarceration, Ahmed cannot be deported from the UK.
Ahmed immigrated to the UK from Pakistan. His release is permitted under a clause in the Immigration Act 1971, which protects Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the country before 1973 from removal. He will be subject to strict conditions upon his release, including curfews and exclusion zones.
He was jailed in 2012 for concurrent sentences of 22 and 19 years. Ahmed was among nine men convicted of sexual offenses against multiple children whom they groomed at two takeaway restaurants in Rochdale. Prosecutors had identified Ahmed as one of the gang's leaders. A court heard that he had abused one victim for over a decade, treating her as a "possession."
After serving 14 years, Ahmed is due to be released. Victims have been informed via email that he will be under an exclusion zone covering the entire borough of Rochdale until June 10, 2034. He will also be required to reside in supervised accommodation with 24-hour staff monitoring. It is understood that he would be barred from returning to the UK if he were to leave.
The email to victims also stated that all avenues to deport Ahmed have been explored, but it is not possible because he has renounced his Pakistani citizenship. This situation is similar to that of two other convicted Rochdale abusers, Qari Abdul Rauf and Adil Khan, who have already been released and also cannot be deported.
A Home Office spokesperson stated that their thoughts are with the victims, describing Ahmed's crimes as being "at the heart of the grooming gangs scandal that represents one of the darkest moments in our country's history." The spokesperson added that Ahmed will be on the sex offender's register for life, ordered to stay away from his victims, and banned from contacting any child or young person. He will face strict curfews and restriction zones, wear an electronic tag, and will be immediately incarcerated if he breaches his conditions.
