Islamic School Teacher Accused of 'Horrific' Sexual Abuse Against Teen Girls — and School’s Alleged Response Has Sparked a Lawsuit

Police are currently searching for a Muslim man suspected of sexually abusing teen girls while working as a teacher at Nur-Ul-Islam Academy in Cooper City, Florida. The victims, now adults, have filed a civil lawsuit against the school over its alleged response to the reports of sexual abuse.

Sgt. Carlos Corretjer, of the Pembroke Pines Police Department, told the Sun Sentinel that an investigation is ongoing into the disturbing allegations against Tariq Ahmad, 35. So far, officers have been unable to locate him.

Ahmad is accused of forcing two teen girls, who were aged 14 and 15 at the time, into sexual relationships.

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The Daily Mail has more on the extent of the alleged sexual abuse:

Attorney Scott Mager said: 'There was significant sexual abuse, intercourse and other inappropriate behaviour such that one of the students had to have substantial surgical repair of that (private) area. It's horrific.

'He would use the chalk board to arraign for times and places to meet victims after school,' said attorney Michael Dolce.

The attorneys claim Nur-Ul-Islam Academy officials knew of Ahmed's illegal conduct for years and did nothing until now.

'They knew in 2008. What do they do? Absolutely nothing, expect accuse the kid of doing it. What do they do, they blame, they cover up, they don't tell the parents,' said Mr Mager

The allegations came to light after a parent reportedly caught one of the girls on the phone with the teacher late at night. The parent claims to have brought the information to school officials, but received no response, according to the lawsuit filed against the school.

Nur-Ul-Islam Academy "maintained Tariq Ahmad in his capacity as a teacher and continued to cloak him with the authority and prestige as being the head of its high school, and continued to allow him unfettered and unmonitored access to vulnerable children,” the lawsuit states.

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Yasir Billoo, an attorney representing the school, told the Sentinel that the alleged sex crimes did not occur on school property.

On Friday, the school announced in a statement that upon learning of the allegations against the teacher, “the Academy immediately suspended the teacher's employment, barred him from any further contact with Academy students and has since terminated his employment with the Academy.”

The case has since been turned over to the Broward State Attorney’s office and is still pending.