TWO suspected asylum seekers have pleaded not guilty over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton that sparked a protest.
Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, is accused of rape, while Mohammad Kabir, also 23, is charged with kidnap, strangulation and aiding and abetting the rape of a girl under 13.
The arrests sparked a protests in Nuneaton[/caption]
Both appeared at Warwick Crown Court today where they entered not guilty pleas to the charges.
Mulakhil used a Farsi interpreter, while Kabir was assisted by a Pashto interpreter.
Their immigration status was not discussed during the hearing but both men are believed to be Afghan asylum seekers.
The pair were remanded into custody ahead of a provisional trial on January 26, 2026.
Police were scrambled to the Warwickshire town on the evening of July 22 following reports a girl had been raped.
The alleged attack led to a protest outside the Town Hall in Nuneaton and march along the high street.
Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch later claimed the men were asylum seekers living in a “house of multiple occupancy”.
Finch, who at 19 became the youngest council leader in the UK and represents Reform UK, added: “Residents of Warwickshire can see they have not been told the full story.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage later urged police forces to release the immigration status of people charged with crimes.
He branded the incident a “cover up that in many ways is reminiscent of what happened after the Southport killings last year”.
But Warwickshire Police said once someone is charged, it follows national guidance, which “does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status”.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said “more transparency is needed” in the information given by police.
Questions were raised over how much information police release on suspects[/caption]