ILLINOIS
Chicago Tribune

George Houde
Chicago Tribune

Two women who say they, too, were groped by an Elgin Islamic leader when they were minors will be allowed to testify at his upcoming trial on charges that he sexually abused two other females, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Mohammed Abdullah Saleem, a prominent imam who founded the Institute of Islamic Education in Elgin, faces charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in two cases, one involving a minor who was a former student and the other involving an adult who worked for him.

Cook County Judge James Karahalios ruled Wednesday that two other women, whose claims date to the 1980s, can testify against Saleem if he goes to trial. That’s uncertain, because plea deal talks could get underway between prosecutors the defense attorneys prior to the trial, which is currently scheduled for Sept. 12.

Saleem is not charged in connection with…