A Manchester mosque held funeral prayers last week for Munir Farooqi, a convicted Taliban fighter who was serving multiple life sentences for terrorism offences. Farooqi, who died in prison last month at the age of 69, was imprisoned in 2011 following a conviction for preparing acts of terrorism and soliciting murder.

Farooqi, Pakistan-born, fought alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks and later returned to Manchester. According to police, he operated a recruitment network aimed at persuading British extremists to travel to Afghanistan to fight. His activities included running an Islamic literature stall in Longsight Market, Manchester, which was used to draw in potential recruits. Police sources described his accounts of fighting, referred to as “war stories,” as tools of radicalisation.

His conviction stemmed from a year-long undercover police operation starting in November 2008, in which officers posed as vulnerable men interested in Islam. Farooqi was found guilty by a jury at Manchester Crown Court for preparing terrorism acts, soliciting murder on three counts, and disseminating terrorist publications. Additionally, police seized large amounts of propaganda materials from his family home, including tens of thousands of books, pamphlets, and DVDs.

More than 100 people attended Farooqi’s burial last Wednesday, held at Manchester Central Mosque, where funeral prayers were conducted. A speaker at the funeral urged attendees to view Farooqi as a role model, praising his religious teachings, steadfastness, and endurance despite imprisonment. The speaker described him as “unbreakable” and invoked the Arabic term “sabr,” meaning patience or perseverance. Allegations were also made during the service that Farooqi’s health had worsened due to mistreatment in prison.

Manchester Central Mosque’s funeral director confirmed the mosque conducted the funeral prayers but declined to offer further comment. The mosque had previously received positive public attention, including from Andy Burnham, who visited during his tenure as mayor of Manchester and commended the mosque for fostering “togetherness.”

Attempts to obtain comments from Downing Street and the mosque were made but no statements were provided. The funeral and public reactions have drawn attention due to Farooqi’s background and criminal convictions related to terrorism.