A Muslim imam who in 2024 was honored by a sheriff’s office with a “public service award” now has been arrested by that same office on suspicion of sexual assault.

It is the RAIR Foundation that is reporting on the scandal that has developed in South Carolina’s Richland County.

It involves imam Louai Elkhatib, a prominent official in the local Muslim community with responsibilities at a mosque and school.

The foundation reported, “In September 2024, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department proudly celebrated Louai Elkhatib, 55, with a public award for ‘5 years of continuous service’ in their ProACT community program.”

It cited photographs showing him smiling and shaking hands with department officials.

Then this year he was arrested, for allegedly “serially sexually assaulting women in his mosque and school.”

“Elkhatib now faces four counts of first-degree assault and battery and one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. He was arrested on July 20, 2026, and booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center with a $175,000 bond and additional conditions,” RAIR reported.

“Multiple women have accused him of years of sexual abuse while serving as imam of the Columbia Mosque and administrator of its attached Islamic school. Authorities say he used his religious and institutional power to coerce and silence victims who were mosque members and school employees.

The foundation’s video report:

The foundation documented how he was a CEO and treasurer of Mission Hope Foundation, and an official at Columbia Mosque as well as a private Islamic school, which has been listed as eligible for South Carolina Education Savings Account funding and scholarships, “meaning taxpayer-supported dollars could help fund attendance at the very institution Elkhatib helped run,” the report said.

The report also documented the significant outreach to Muslims by the sheriff’s office, which has held an “all-Muslim citizens academy” and also joined Muslims for a Ramadan Iftar dinner.

The foundation said county residents now deserve “a full accounting,” including explanations of how thoroughly Elkhatib was vetted, how much public funding supports the Islamic agenda and “how many other individuals with similar backgrounds remain embedded in community programs, schools, or chaplaincy roles?”