British lawmakers are urging the Home Office and Foreign Ministry to deport a man convicted of raping and trafficking dozens of girls, after reports emerged that he would be unexpectedly released from prison.
The man, Shabir Ahmed, was handed a 19-year prison sentence in May 2012 for leading a sexual exploitation ring. Over more than a decade, courts found, he raped or abetted the rape of dozens of girls in Rochdale and Oldham, two towns in northwest England near Manchester. He was sentenced alongside eight other men.
Mr. Ahmed, 73, had been a dual citizen of Britain and Pakistan but lost his British citizenship after he was convicted.
The BBC reported on Thursday that he had “left prison.” It was not clear why he was freed after serving 14 years. The Ministry of Justice declined to specify whether he had already been freed but said it had notified victims of Mr. Ahmed’s release.
In a statement, the ministry also said that he would be tracked with an electronic tag, given a curfew and forbidden from entering certain areas or contacting “any child or young person.”
The Home Office, which oversees immigration and internal security, said in a statement that it was “currently working with colleagues across government to explore all possible options to deport this vile criminal.”
“As previous governments have found, this necessarily involves the agreement of the receiving country, which has not always been possible in some countries,” it added.
Some politicians have complained on social media and in televised interviews that a legal “loophole” might stand in the way of removing Mr. Ahmed. The Ministry of Justice said the man could not be immediately deported because of a 1971 immigration law that prevents the government from removing certain immigrants from Commonwealth countries, including Pakistan.
The Pakistani Embassy in London did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
More than a decade ago, a “grooming gangs” scandal came to light when groups of men, many of them of Pakistani heritage, were found to be exploiting and raping vulnerable girls in several towns and cities in Britain. The authorities were accused of failing to protect victims and properly investigate the abusers. It led to numerous criminal prosecutions and inquiries.
After local news reports surfaced that Mr. Ahmed would be released, the response was swift and indignant.
Jim McMahon, a member of Parliament representing one of the areas where the abuse occurred, said in parliamentary debate on Tuesday that he was “disgusted,” and called for Mr. Ahmed’s removal from the country.
Andy Burnham, the popular former mayor of Greater Manchester and the lead contender to succeed Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said on social media Wednesday: “Like everyone, I want this vile criminal out of the country. Victims must come first.”
Mr. Burnham added that he would urge the home and foreign secretaries to “review all possible options.”
The outcry over the decision to free Mr. Ahmed comes at a time when conservative political figures have ratcheted up anti-immigrant rhetoric.
In June, violent protests erupted in southern England after footage was released of officers handcuffing a stabbing victim while his attacker, a Sikh man, looked on.
The attacker was born and raised in Britain, but far-right activists seized on the episode to encourage anti-immigrant protests.
Less than a week later, in Northern Ireland, anti-immigrant protesters attacked the police and set fire to homes and cars after a Sudanese man was charged with attempted murder in a knife attack in Belfast.
