KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Investigators say an executive director for the American Muslim Youth Leadership Council has been arrested on accusations of inappropriately touching a teen.
Helmi Agha, also called Iman Abufarah, was charged with 12 counts of lewd and lascivious molestation.
Investigators say in January a 15-year-old girl reported that she had fainted at the council and was brought to Agha's office at 4990 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, where he touched her inappropriately.
The girl said that Agha also touched her on several other occasions, according to the report.
Deputies said Agha refused to cooperate initially, but turned himself in Wednesday afternoon. He was booked into the Osceola County jail on no bond.
Hassan Shibly, of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Florida, released the following statement to Local 6 News:
"The Council on American-Islamic Relations Florida (CAIR Florida) is extremely concerned about the allegations against Helmi 'Abufarah' Motasim Agha. Today's developments come after leaders of the Florida Muslim community first reported these troubling allegations to law enforcement in January. CAIR Florida commends the Osceola County Sheriff for their investigation into this disturbing allegation.
"The first priority is the safety of our youth. The alleged victim is a strong young woman who does not want anyone else to become a victim of the same inappropriate behavior.
"While the nature of these charges are disturbing, we must encourage our justice system to work and cooperate with the authorities during their investigation. We have faith in the legal system and expect the judicial process to take its course.
"CAIR Florida is committed to justice and condemns such behavior in the strongest terms possible. These charges come as a hard hitting blow to the Muslim community, and we want to reiterate that the Muslim community has zero tolerance this behavior. We offer our support and prayers to all those effected by this situation. We will be working with the Florida Muslim community and, specifically, the Osceola County Muslim community to provide them with all possible resources to assist them through this difficult and traumatic time."
The AMYL Council is a nonprofit organization that works with youth and also serves as a location of worship.