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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/oct/26/rochdale-grooming-gang-members-adil-khan-qari-abdul-rauf-to-be-deported-to-pakistan
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| Rochdale grooming gang members to be deported to Pakistan | Rochdale grooming gang members to be deported to Pakistan |
| (3 months later) | |
| Adil Khan and Qari Abdul Rauf lose appeal as judges say ‘very strong public interest’ to deport them | Adil Khan and Qari Abdul Rauf lose appeal as judges say ‘very strong public interest’ to deport them |
| Two members of a Rochdale grooming gang are to be deported to Pakistan after losing a seven-year legal fight to remain in Britain. | Two members of a Rochdale grooming gang are to be deported to Pakistan after losing a seven-year legal fight to remain in Britain. |
| Adil Khan, 51, and Qari Abdul Rauf, 53, were convicted in 2012 of a series of sexual offences against young girls and jailed later the same year. | Adil Khan, 51, and Qari Abdul Rauf, 53, were convicted in 2012 of a series of sexual offences against young girls and jailed later the same year. |
| The pair mounted a legal challenge after Theresa May, the then-home secretary, told them they would be deported. | The pair mounted a legal challenge after Theresa May, the then-home secretary, told them they would be deported. |
| They had argued that their human rights would be infringed by being removed from Britain and both said they had certificates renouncing their Pakistani citizenship. | They had argued that their human rights would be infringed by being removed from Britain and both said they had certificates renouncing their Pakistani citizenship. |
| In a ruling handed down on Wednesday, however, immigration judges said there was a “very strong public interest” to deport the pair as soon as possible. | In a ruling handed down on Wednesday, however, immigration judges said there was a “very strong public interest” to deport the pair as soon as possible. |
| Judges Charlotte Welsh and Siew Ling Yoke said Khan had shown a “breathtaking lack of remorse” about his part in the nine-member grooming gang that police believe abused as many as 47 vulnerable girls in Rochdale between 2008 and 2010. | Judges Charlotte Welsh and Siew Ling Yoke said Khan had shown a “breathtaking lack of remorse” about his part in the nine-member grooming gang that police believe abused as many as 47 vulnerable girls in Rochdale between 2008 and 2010. |
| The deportation ruling, which was made in August but released publicly on Wednesday, is the culmination of a seven-year legal challenge that has frustrated several home secretaries and increased tensions in Rochdale, where victims were living alongside their tormentors. | The deportation ruling, which was made in August but released publicly on Wednesday, is the culmination of a seven-year legal challenge that has frustrated several home secretaries and increased tensions in Rochdale, where victims were living alongside their tormentors. |
| Khan, who was jailed for eight years, was convicted of trafficking a 15-year-old girl to his friends for sexual exploitation and using violence when she complained. His trial heard how, in his 40s, he had got a 13-year-old girl pregnant and denied he was the father. | Khan, who was jailed for eight years, was convicted of trafficking a 15-year-old girl to his friends for sexual exploitation and using violence when she complained. His trial heard how, in his 40s, he had got a 13-year-old girl pregnant and denied he was the father. |
| During various deportation appeal hearings Khan complained about having no rights in the UK and said he needed to remain to be a role model for his son and teach him “right from wrong”. | During various deportation appeal hearings Khan complained about having no rights in the UK and said he needed to remain to be a role model for his son and teach him “right from wrong”. |
| He also denied grooming offences, saying his prosecution was racially motivated. He claimed he could not have groomed anyone because he was unable to speak English. | He also denied grooming offences, saying his prosecution was racially motivated. He claimed he could not have groomed anyone because he was unable to speak English. |
| Rauf, a father-of-five, was convicted of trafficking a 15-year-old girl for sex and jailed for six years, serving two years and six months of his sentence before being released in 2014. | Rauf, a father-of-five, was convicted of trafficking a 15-year-old girl for sex and jailed for six years, serving two years and six months of his sentence before being released in 2014. |
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| Home Office lawyers argued the case had taken a “very long time” and that it was in the public interest to deport both men as soon as possible. | Home Office lawyers argued the case had taken a “very long time” and that it was in the public interest to deport both men as soon as possible. |
| They have now appeared before 12 judges, including a master of the rolls, during hearings at three crown courts, a number of immigration tribunals and the court of appeal. The pair’s legal challenge was funded by more than £550,000 of public money. | They have now appeared before 12 judges, including a master of the rolls, during hearings at three crown courts, a number of immigration tribunals and the court of appeal. The pair’s legal challenge was funded by more than £550,000 of public money. |
| Police have said the gang groomed girls as young as 12, and the trial in 2012 heard how the victims were plied with alcohol and drugs, gang-raped above takeaway shops and ferried to flats in taxis to be abused. | Police have said the gang groomed girls as young as 12, and the trial in 2012 heard how the victims were plied with alcohol and drugs, gang-raped above takeaway shops and ferried to flats in taxis to be abused. |