IOWA
Des Moines Register

Written by
Grant Rodgers

Johnston police on Monday arrested a Muslim imam who serves at the Des Moines Islamic Cultural Center after he reportedly sexually abused two women during a ritual.

Nermin Spahic, 40, was charged with third-degree sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a clergy and transported to Polk County Jail, according to a press release from the Johnston Police Department.

Spahic’s arrest came after police were called to a house in Johnston where Spahic was allegedly involved in a “ceremonial ritual” with an 18-year-old woman and her 35-year-old mother, according to the release. The woman told police Spahic sexually assaulted them both.

Spahic, a Des Moines resident, denied any sexual contact with the women.