Two Afghan men face UK trial over alleged assault of 12-year-old
Two Afghan citizens, Mohammad Kabir (24) and Ahmad Malakkhail (23), are standing trial at Warwick Crown Court on charges of abducting and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl.
The British newspaper The Standard reported Friday the alleged incident occurred on July 22 in a park in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, where the men reportedly approached the child while she was playing.
The case has emerged amid broader debates in Britain about asylum seeker and refugee integration, criminal justice procedures, and child protection in public spaces. The UK has received thousands of Afghan refugees since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, with most integrated peacefully into British society, though high-profile criminal cases have fueled political debates about immigration policies and vetting procedures.
CCTV footage presented to the jury shows Malakkhail speaking with the child, both defendants leaving the park, and moving toward a secluded location together.
Child safeguarding organizations in the UK have emphasized that sexual abuse occurs across all communities and demographics, with the vast majority of child sexual abuse committed by people known to victims rather than strangers. However, cases involving asylum seekers or refugees often receive disproportionate media attention, which advocates warn can fuel discrimination against entire communities while obscuring the broader patterns of child abuse in society.
Prosecutors allege Kabir initially subjected the girl to “intentional strangulation” with intent to transport her to other cities for sexual purposes, while Malakkhail later sexually assaulted the child.
Ahmad Malakkhail has admitted to one charge of oral rape but denied other allegations including child abduction, two other rape charges, two counts of sexual assault, and taking indecent photographs.
Mohammad Kabir has denied all charges including intentional strangulation, attempted sexual offense, and attempted child abduction, with the trial continuing at Warwick Crown Court.
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