A Manchester mosque praised by Andy Burnham held a funeral for a Taliban fighter convicted of terror offences.
The Prime Minister visited the Manchester Central Mosque in February, when he was mayor of the city, and shared an Iftar meal with worshippers at the mosque.
On Wednesday the mosque held a funeral for Munir Farooqi, a terrorist who ran a ‘recruitment centre’ to persuade homegrown British extremists to ‘fight, kill and die’ in Afghanistan.
Farooqi, who fought for the Taliban following the September 11 attack before returning to Manchester, was given four life sentences in 2011 for preparing terrorist acts, soliciting murder and disseminating terror literature.
The Pakistan-born extremist died in prison at the end of September aged 69. Footage seen by the Mail shows the Manchester Central Mosque holding his janazah, or Muslim funeral, on September 30.
More than 100 people reportedly attended the funeral, including his family which still ‘considers him a martyr who died doing what he loved’, according to hardline Islamist news outlet 5Pillars.
Mr Burnham visited the mosque in February and shared an Iftar, or fast-breaking Ramadan evening meal, with members of the local Muslim community.
He was also joined by Labour MPs Debbie Abrahams and Afzal Khan, as well as the now Mayor of Greater Manchester Bev Craig and Labour’s candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election, which the party lost to the Greens.
Munir Farooqi (pictured), was given four life sentences in 2011 for preparing terrorist acts, soliciting murder and disseminating terror literature
Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited the mosque in February with Labour MPs Debbie Abrahams and Afzal Khan, as well as the now Mayor of Greater Manchester Bev Craig and Labour’s candidate for the Gorton and Denton by-election, which the party lost to the Greens
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: ‘The Prime Minister must apologise if it is true he attended a Manchester mosque that disgracefully held a funeral for a convicted terrorist and ex-Taliban fighter.
‘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.
‘It is deeply concerning the Labour Government does not have the backbone to confront this reality.’
Mr Burnham visited the mosque in February shortly after a security incident in which two men entered the building during Ramadan allegedly carrying weapons including an axe, a hammer and a knife.
Both men were arrested and one was charged with possession of an offensive weapon and possession of class B drugs. The second man faced no further action.
Footage of the Iftar meal during the visit shows Mr Burnham praising the mosque for its ‘togetherness’ and saying: ‘We’re not about allowing any room for the politics of division in Greater Manchester and creating a climate where that can advance.’
In a statement outside the mosque at the time, he added: ‘Everybody in our city region, whoever they are, whatever faith they follow, should be free at all times to practice that faith, to worship in their communities, and we will never accept a city region where people have any fear of being at their place of worship, and that’s why we’re working with Greater Manchester Police to strengthen security at places of worship as much as we possibly can.’
Downing Street and the mosque were approached for comment.
