Auckland mosque volunteer charged with sexually abusing teens loses name suppression

Tanzeel Saiyad Hussain, a former mosque volunteer in South Auckland, has lost name suppression as he faces trial for sexually abusing two boys. The mosque has stated that Hussain held no leadership position and that they are cooperating with legal authorities.
Why it matters
Addresses critical issues of child safety, legal transparency, and institutional accountability in religious organizations.
A former South Auckland mosque volunteer charged with sexually abusing two boys can now be named.
Tanzeel Saiyad Hussain pleaded not guilty last year in the Manukau District Court to seven charges: five for indecent acts and two for indecent assault.
The court confirmed on Monday that Hussain’s interim name suppression had lapsed. Through his legal counsel, Hussain declined to comment, citing his pending trial.
The offending is alleged to have occurred between 2016 and 2020 at locations including Masjid At Taqwa, while driving to the Manukau mosque and at a Masjid At Taqwa youth camp.
All but the indecent assault charges relate to alleged offending against boys under 16.
Each charge carries a maximum of seven years’ imprisonment.
Police allege Hussain squeezed one boy’s genitals and made sexual comments.
On another occasion, while parked at the mosque, Hussain allegedly grabbed another complainant’s genitals over his clothing.
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