THE renewed focus on the so-called grooming gangs, such as the one in the Rochdale town in the Greater Manchester area of England, and the unfortunate conflation of these crimes with Muslims, Pakistanis as well as other immigrants, is alarming. Succinctly, such discussions cannot be reduced to matters of race or religion.

It is essential to recognise that Islam unequivocally condemns all forms of sexual exploitation. As such, anyone who violates the dignity of another human being must be brought to justice, regardless of their ethnicity or religion.

Equating the actions of a criminal minority with the wider Muslim community is unjust and harmful. Such generalisations only serve to perpetuate stereotypes and fuel division within society.

Thus, framing these crimes as a critique of a religion or a culture is a gross disservice to the victims, and distracts from the systemic failures of the relevant authorities responsible for holding the perpetrators accountable. Unfortunately, this scapegoating of Muslims feels part of a broader trend.

As a matter of fact, the recent data on group-based child sexual abuse cases reveals that these crimes are not predominantly committed by any single ethnic group. In fact, the majority of these offences are committed by individuals from various backgrounds, including white perpetrators.

According to the National Police Chiefs` Council (NPCC), 85 per cent of grooming gang offences are committed by white men, while 7pc are committedby Asians, and 5pc by black individuals.

Among the 7pc of Asian offenders, 2pc are of Pakistani descent.

It is crucial to address the systemic failings that allow such crimes to occur rather than focussing on the ethnicity or religion of the perpetrators.

Letusaddressthe rooteauses and systemic issues, and focus on supporting the victims, ensuring that they receive the justice and care they deserve. We must work together to create a society where such heinous crimes are never repeated.

Muhammad Faizan Ali Karachi