Faith Betrayed: Popular Texas Scholar’s Alleged Child Pornography Charges Ignite Outrage and Demand Accountability from Religious Institutions

Federal authorities have arrested and charged Texas-based Wisam Sharieff, a prominent Qur’an instructor and Islamic educator affiliated with the AlMaghrib Institute, with conspiracy to produce child pornography. 

The charges accuse Sharieff of coercing a woman and her minor daughter into producing and sharing sexually explicit videos, disguising his intentions under the pretext of religious guidance through the messaging app Telegram. 

According to the FBI charges against the Iman, filed by Special Agent Eric Salvador, Sharieff showed interest in 50-year-old Blake Miller Barakat at a religious conference. Using his influence, Sharieff allegedly convinced Barakat that engaging in sexual activities would bring her closer to Allah. 

The manipulation reportedly took a turn for the worst and is said to have extended to Barakat's minor daughter, with Sharieff allegedly instructing her to involve the child in explicit acts as well. 

Wife's Shocking Discovery Unveils Alleged Religious Manipulation 

The FBI investigation was initiated after Sharieff’s wife found explicit material on his phone and reported it to authorities, leading to Barakat’s arrest on October 21.

Barakat now faces charges related to child exploitation and is being held on nearly $2 million bail. 

In light of these disturbing allegations, the AlMaghrib Institute promptly dismissed Sharieff and strongly denounced his actions. Through a public statement on X, the institute emphasized its unwavering dedication to ensuring community safety, declaring, “The safety and well-being of our community is our top priority.” The institute also assured that no minors involved in its programs were impacted by Sharieff’s actions.

It explained that once the potential violations were reported, the institute launched its investigation. Although it did not have access to the law enforcement inquiry, the institute concluded that Sharieff had breached its rules and terminated his employment.

“Our justice system will now address the case of Wisam Sharieff, and we pray that Allah grants peace to the victims and healing to our community,” the statement read. “Allah’s faith is not dependent on any single person, and the Quran Revolution program will continue as scheduled with our students.” 

Outrage Sweeps Community as Islamic Organizations Call for Accountability 

The charges against Sharieff have ignited strong condemnation within the Muslim community, prompting organizations like media platform MuslimMatters to sever ties with him. 

A frequent guest and contributor for MuslimMatters,  it now condemned his alleged abuse as “a grave misuse of authority and a clear betrayal of trust.” The publication further urged Islamic institutions to enforce policies that mandate comprehensive background checks for educators and uphold strict ethical guidelines. 

In a strong statement, the Female Scholars Network—a group of Muslim women scholars and educators—condemned the alleged abuse, calling for accountability and immediate action. The network highlighted the importance of breaking the “culture of silence surrounding abuse within our communities” and expressed solidarity with survivors. Their statement also stressed the growing call for transparency and stronger protective measures within religious educational institutions to prevent future abuses of power.

The Asiyah Women’s Center, a support center for Muslim victims of domestic violence, organized a therapist-led Zoom session to allow community members to come together and process their grief following the allegations. Sarah Sultan, an instructor at AlMaghrib, shared on Instagram that the "despicable actions and shortcomings" of one person should not overshadow their faith in Allah. 

Ingrid Mattson, a leading Muslim scholar and former president of the Islamic Society of North America, posted a thread on X acknowledging that while spiritual abuse is alarming, it should no longer be surprising. She pointed out, "Too many heartbreaking accounts have surfaced of children being abused by those responsible for their care and religious guidance. Ignoring these realities is irresponsible."