Keralam Islamic scholar Muhammed Jouhary held for alleged sexual assault of minor

Islamic scholar, speaker, and vlogger Muhammed Niyas Jouhary has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Kollam on Sunday, November 1. 

Karunagappally police confirmed to TNM that he has been booked under the relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Muhammed Niyas Jouhary is the founder-director of the Habeebiyya Islamic Academy in Oachira, Kollam. According to the academy’s website, the institute offers Qur’an and Sunnah teachings, as well as “essential academic support”.

Jouhary has an active presence on social media, and regularly broadcasts live prayer sessions and motivational Islamic content on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

According to reports, the minor was abused under the pretext of curing her illness through prayers. The survivor allegedly first went to Jouhary with her paternal grandmother. Jouhary allegedly sexually assaulted the girl at various locations between 2025 and 2026. 

This is a developing story.