Nine men of Pakistani and Afghan descent have been convicted by a British court of luring girls as young as 13 into sexual encounters by plying them with alcohol and drugs.
The case has heightened racial tensions in Britain and stirred protests by the far right against Britain's Pakistani and Afghan communities.
Five victims who testified during the trial were all white.
They spoke of being raped, beaten, traded for sex, and sometimes being passed from man to man.
One teenager testified that she was forced to have sex with 20 men in one night.
Muslim leaders in Britain condemned the crimes and praised the bravery of victims for testifying.
Muhammad Shafiq of the Ramadhan Foundation, one of Britain's largest Muslim organizations, said the criminals "brought shame on themselves, their families, and our community."
The case has heightened racial tensions in Britain and stirred protests by the far right against Britain's Pakistani and Afghan communities.
Five victims who testified during the trial were all white.
They spoke of being raped, beaten, traded for sex, and sometimes being passed from man to man.
One teenager testified that she was forced to have sex with 20 men in one night.
Muslim leaders in Britain condemned the crimes and praised the bravery of victims for testifying.
Muhammad Shafiq of the Ramadhan Foundation, one of Britain's largest Muslim organizations, said the criminals "brought shame on themselves, their families, and our community."
