Skokie Man Accused Of Sexual Abuse Of Child Owns Religious School

SKOKIE, IL — The Skokie teacher accused of raping a child is the owner of the religious school where the abuse occurred over a period of six months, prosecutors said. The student he is charged with sexually assaulting was between the ages of 9 and 10 at the time, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

Mohammedimran Mulla, 32, lived at the Noor Learning Center, 3929 Oakton St., according to police. Police learned of the allegations on July 5 and took Mulla into custody the next day. He was ordered held without bond Tuesday. From the start of the year until the end of last month, Mulla sexually assaulted the girl more than 10 times, prosecutors said at his bond hearing.

Although this was Mulla's first arrest, the girl may not be his only victim. A former student told investigators Mulla has frequently engaged in inappropriate sexual conversations while at the school. He has also made sexual gestures and "rubbed his own penis" during classes, the judge was told.

According to prosecutors, the girl and her siblings attended the Noor Learning Center, which provides classes for children about the Quran and religious studies on the weekend. Mulla would take the girl to an isolated room in the school building away from the other students, prosecutors said.

Another student at the school confirmed her account, telling investigators there were multiple times when Mulla would take the girl away from the group to a private room for extended periods of time without explanation, according to prosecutors.

The girl did not disclose the ongoing sexual assaults to her parents because Mulla told her would beat her if she did, according the state's attorney's office. She eventually told an older sibling, who told their parents. Family members then consulted with a religious leader within the Islamic community for advice and guidance before contacting police, prosecutors explained.

Mulla, who is married to a woman in India, was initially charged with predatory sexual assault of a child, attempted predatory sexual assault of a child and aggravated criminal sexual abuse, according to the state's attorney's office.

The Noor Learning Center offers classes on the Quran and promises to "prepare a generation of righteous and remarkable boys and girls who will become leaders," according to its website. It was not clear how long the school has operated in Skokie but domain records show its website was created in May 2014.

Skokie police initially described the girl Mulla is accused of abusing as 11 years old, but records with the state's attorney's office show her as aged 10. On Thursday, Sgt. Denise Franklin declined to specify when the abuse took place or how long Mulla had been around children at the school. She did not respond to a query Friday about the victim's age.

Earlier: Student Sexually Assaulted By Skokie Teacher: Police