British police have busted a gang of Asian men, mostly British-born Muslims, involved sexual assaulting of over 700 girls and young women across north-east England.The scandal came to the fore as police launched an operation and nabbed 18 members of a 'grooming gang'. They were subsequently convicted of offences including rape, assault, supplying drugs and trafficking of women.These men are of Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Iraqi and Turkish origin while the victims are mostly white British girls and young women.According to police, the gang targeted young vulnerable women and girls and used alcohol, drugs, violence, money and threats to subject them to assault and rape. Much of the abuse occurred between 2010 and 2014 at so called sex parties.Leaders representing different faiths have since called for calm and urged not to cast blame on select communities in the wake of the scandal. The appeal was made after incidents of similar pattern were unearthed in Rochdale, Rotherham and Oxford.Distancing him from the crime of grave nature, Newcastle councillor Dipu Ahad said local Muslims were “absolutely disgusted” and also feared a backlash against them.“It’s not a ‘Muslim issue’ but they are mostly Muslims,” he told The Independent.“So are Islamic State, they might not represent what Islam says but you can’t deny they’re Muslims.”Ahad went on to add that fellow Muslims should not be “apologising” for the criminal gangs, asking: “Did the white community come out and condemn the crimes of Jimmy Savile?”He was referring to late BBC TV presenter who was revealed to have been one of Britain’s most prolific sex offenders.He, however, said religion was an opportunity for religious leaders and community groups to discuss how women and relationships are perceived. Religious texts and prayers could be used to further equality, he added.Conversely, far-right groups have seized the Newcastle scandal to support the long-held narrative of a conspiracy among Muslim men and certain immigrants groups against white women.Though Greg Stone, a city councilor, admitted that at least two of the convicts were not Muslim but said, “No one wants to demonise a particular community but the fact that his is happening again and again in the same circumstances and communities is a fact we cannot ignore.“I think there needs to be a national approach – this is happening in too many places for it to be local circumstances,” he added.He went on to add that "we ask some tough questions of the Pakistani and Bangladeshi community in particular.”Further, Sarah Champion, an equalities minister, claimed grooming gangs mostly comprised of Pakistani men, saying they had been involved in the practice “time and time and time again”.Labour member of the parliament Chi Onwurah said those who were seeking to use the convicts’ Asian or Muslim background to create a division were putting women and girls at risk.“Assuming that grooming and child abuse is prevalent in one group helps potential abusers hide in plain sight if they are not part of that group,” she added.Onwurah opined that crimes of sexual exploitation can be and are committed by members of all communities and indeed it remains regrettably true that sexual abuse is most likely to come from within the family circle."The Crown Prosecution Service released the names and ages of the people convicted as part of Operation Shelter. They were:Nashir Uddin, 35, pleaded guilty to three counts of drug possession and four counts of drug supply. He was convicted of one count of sexual assault, one count of allowing a premises to be used for drug supply and one count of conspiracy to incite prostitution for gain. He is awaiting sentence.Saiful Islam, 35, was convicted of one count of rape and sentenced to 10 years in prison.Yasser Hussain, 28, was convicted of one count of allowing a premises to be used for drug supply, one count of assault by beating, one count of intimidation and one count of conspiracy to incite prostitution for gain. He was sentenced to two years in prison.Mohammed Azram, 35, pleaded guilty to five charges of drug supply and was convicted of one sexual assault, plus one count of conspiracy to incite prostitution for gain. He is awaiting sentence.Jahangir Zaman, 44, was convicted of one count of drug supply, one count of rape and one count of conspiracy to incite prostitution for gain. He is awaiting sentence. Separately convicted of two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs as part of Operation Emerald.Mohammed Hassan Ali, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of drug supply. He was convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of drug possession with intent to supply, and jailed for seven years.Badrul Hussain, 37, was convicted of three counts of drug supply and three counts of allowing a premises to be used for the supply of drugs. He is awaiting sentence.Abdul Sabe, age 40, pleaded guilty to one count of drug possession. He was convicted of one count of conspiring to sexually assault, one count of trafficking for sexual exploitation, two counts of drug supply and one count of conspiring to incite prostitution for gain. He is awaiting sentence.Mohibur Rahman, 44, pleaded guilty to two counts of drug supply and two counts of allowing a premises to be used for the supply of drugs. He is awaiting sentence.Habibur Rahim, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of drug supply and one count of conspiracy to incite prostitution. He was convicted of one count of rape, six counts of drug supply, three counts of trafficking for sexual exploitation, one count of human trafficking and two counts of conspiring to incite prostitution for gain. He is awaiting sentence.Carol Ann Gallon, 22, pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking and is awaiting sentence.Abdulhamid Minoyee, 34, pleaded guilty entered to one count of drug supply and was convicted of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. He is awaiting sentence.Taherul Alam, 32, was convicted of two counts of drug supply, one count of attempted sexual assault, one count of allowing a premises to be used for the supply of drugs and one count of conspiracy to incite prostitution. He is awaiting sentence.Monjur Choudhury, 33, was convicted of one count of drug supply, one count of allowing a premises to be used for the supply of drugs and one count of conspiracy to incite prostitution. He is awaiting sentence.Nadeem Aslam, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of drug possession. He was convicted of two counts of drug supply, one count of drug possession and one count of allowing a premises to be used for the supply of drugs. He is awaiting sentence. Separately convicted of two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs as part of Operation Emerald.Prabhat Nelli, 33, was convicted of two counts of drug supply and one count of conspiracy to incite prostitution. He is awaiting sentence.Eisa Mousavi, 42, was convicted of three counts of rape, two counts of drug supply, one count of allowing a premises to be used for the supply of drugs and one count of conspiracy to incite prostitution. He is awaiting sentence.Redwan Siddique, 32, pleaded guilty before trial to one count of drug supply and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.This article originally appeared on Independent