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Manchester Central Mosque, which Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited in February to share an Iftar meal with local Muslims, recently held a funeral for Munir Farooqi, a Taliban fighter convicted of terror offenses and given four life sentences in 2011. The mosque's involvement in the terrorist’s funeral has sparked controversy, with more than 100 people attending the event despite his conviction for preparing terrorist acts and soliciting murder. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp called on Burnham to apologize for associating with a mosque that honored such an individual, highlighting concerns about Islamist extremism.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In February, Andy Burnham, then mayor of Greater Manchester and now Prime Minister, visited the Manchester Central Mosque during Ramadan to share an Iftar meal. The same mosque held a funeral on September 30 for Munir Farooqi, who had been convicted in 2011 of preparing terrorist acts, soliciting murder, and disseminating terror literature. Farooqi received four life sentences and died in prison at age 69. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp called on Burnham to apologize for the visit, stating that holding a funeral for a convicted terrorist is disgraceful. The mosque's decision to hold the funeral has sparked controversy over its stance on extremism, with some attendees considering Farooqi a martyr.
Written for “Terrorist Funeral Controversy” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning: leans strongly right for article 56224 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-10-04
A Manchester mosque praised by Andy Burnham held a funeral for a Taliban fighter convicted of terror offences.
asserted
mosque → praise → 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.
asserted
he → visit → 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.
asserted
who → hold → 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.
asserted
who → fight → literature
The Pakistan-born extremist died in prison at the end of September aged 69.
asserted
extremist → bear → September
Footage seen by the Mail shows the Manchester Central Mosque holding his janazah, or Muslim funeral, on September 30.
asserted
Mosque → see → September
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.
uncertain
he → attend → 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.
asserted
party → visit → 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.
asserted
that → picture → terrorist
'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.
asserted
we → face → it
It is deeply concerning the Labour Government does not have the backbone to confront this reality.'
asserted
Government → have → 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.
uncertain
men → visit → axe
Both men were arrested and one was charged with possession of an offensive weapon and possession of class B drugs.
asserted
one → arrest → drugs
The second man faced no further action.
asserted
man → face → 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.
asserted
that → show → climate
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.
uncertain
Street → add → comment
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