Muslim religious leader arrested for abuse of multiple children at Queens mosque

A Muslim religious leader from a Queens mosque has been arrested for allegedly groping and molesting multiple young girls, according to police.

Tajul Islam, 55, was taken into custody on Monday by the Queens Child Abuse Squad. He has been charged with sexual abuse, forcible touching, and endangering the welfare of a child, according to police. He is a leader at the Masjid Bilal Queens Islamic Center in Jamaica.

Islam was booked at the 113th Precinct in Jamaica for the sexual crimes, which included the victimization of two 10-year-old girls, per a criminal complaint obtained by QNS.

According to the complaint, on the evening of April 21, Islam approached one of the 10-year-old girls and allegedly grabbed her breast as well as well as her inner thigh, per the complaint. He did so with another 10-year-old girl on April 27. Four hours afterward, he was arrested.

During his arraignment on Tuesday, Islam pleaded not guilty before Queens criminal Court Judge Sharifa Nasser-Cuellar. His bail has been set at $25,000, and he was also issued a temporary protection order by Judge Nasser-Cuellar.

Islam has no prior arrests leading up to being charged with the alleged sexual abuse earlier this week. The NYPD has asked if there are other victims with knowledge of the incidents or others to come forward. Anyone with information has been encouraged to call the NYPD’s Sex Crimes Hotline at 1-212-267-7273 or 1-646-610-7272.