Manchester Central Mosque has held a funeral service for Munir Farooqi, a convicted Taliban terrorist who ran a British recruitment ring. Farooqi, 69, died in prison late last month while serving four life sentences for preparing terrorist acts, soliciting murder and disseminating terror literature.
The janazah (Muslim funeral service) took place on September 30. Farooqi had travelled to Afghanistan to fight alongside the Taliban following the 9/11 terror attacks before returning to the UK, where he established a recruitment hub in Manchester designed to persuade homegrown British extremists to “fight, kill and die” abroad.
Footage shows large attendance
Footage obtained by the Daily Mail shows more than 100 people attending the ceremony. According to hardline Islamist news outlet 5Pillars, Farooqi’s family continues to view him as a “martyr who died doing what he loved.”
The revelations have sparked intense political backlash. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called on the Labour Prime Minister to apologise if he had visited the venue, warning against pandering to extremist elements.
“Islamist extremism is the biggest threat facing our society, and we must do everything in our power to combat it rather than pander to those proliferating it,” the Croydon MP said. “It is deeply concerning the Labour Government does not have the backbone to confront this reality.”
Prime Minister’s earlier visit
The now-Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, who previously served as Mayor of Greater Manchester, visited the mosque in February alongside Labour MPs Debbie Abrahams and Afzal Khan, as well as current Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig. During the visit, Mr Burnham shared an Iftar meal with community members to break the Ramadan fast.
His visit followed an incident where two men allegedly entered the building armed with weapons, including an axe and a knife. Speaking during the February event, the now Prime Minister praised the congregation, stating: “We’re not about allowing any room for the politics of division in Greater Manchester and creating a climate where that can advance.”
He added outside the building: “Everybody in our city region, whoever they are, whatever faith they follow, should be free at all times to practice that faith [...] and we will never accept a city region where people have any fear of being at their place of worship.”
The Express contacted No 10, who declined to comment. The Express also contacted the Manchester Central Mosque for comment.
