SUPPORTERS of an Islamic minister accused of child sex offences called off an impromptu demonstration after police agreed to meet with them so they could discuss the case.

As reported in The Sentinel yesterday, Mohammed Hanif Khan appeared before North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court on Tuesday charged with five offences.

The 41-year-old imam at Tunstall's Capper Street Mosque is accused of the attempted rape and sexual assault of a 15-year-old boy in Meir last year.

He is further accused of three counts of rape on a boy under the age of 13 last year in Tunstall.

But friends, family and followers, who believe he is innocent, gathered in Tunstall last night and demanded a meeting with police.

They now plan to stage a peaceful protest outside Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Monday, when Khan, who gave his address as Bardsley Close, Ellesmere Port, will appear for a preliminary hearing.

His supporters say they are upset he was remanded in custody on Tuesday.

Among them was his cousin Saj Iqbal, aged 28, of Newcastle upon Tyne.

He had organised a march from the mosque to Tunstall police station last night, but called it off when Sergeant Deborah Losh agreed to meet him at the station.

Mr Iqbal said: "There are hundreds of people who believe in him, who were just a phone call away from coming down here last night, but we didn't want that."

Khan's brother Mohammed Idris Iqbal, aged 49, from Sheffield, said: "Everyone will be outside protesting on Monday."

Mohammed Irshad, another of Khan's cousins, aged 37, from Sheffield, said: "This doesn't just affect his reputation, but the whole family.

"He has been all over the world teaching children and we don't think he is a bad person."

Other people gathered at the police station included Khalid Azam, from Middlesbrough.

The 36-year-old said: "I have come to support him, because I believe he is an innocent man.

"His speeches are fantastic. They are all in English so they make more sense to the younger generations."

Tunstall resident and member of the mosque, 35-year-old Mohammed Asif added: "He has helped a lot of people. He has worked for the prison service and been a director for race relations."

Mohammed Alam, aged 37, of Tunstall said: "The sergeant has taken our concerns and is relaying them back to people.

"I am also planning to meet with the chief inspector about this."

Sergeant Losh, who met with four members of the 25-strong group for almost two hours, said: "We are always in conversation with the public and members of the community.

"We welcome people coming to us if they have any questions."