Imam family’s delay agony
THE family of a Rochdale imam who was killed more than five years ago faces another agonising wait for the latest chapter in his tragic case to close.
Jalal Uddin was 71 when he was bludgeoned to death at a play area in Wardleworth on February 18, 2016.
Mohammed Abdul Kadir, the man believed to have dealt the fatal blows to Mr Uddin, escaped to Istanbul via Copenhagen in the days after Mr Uddin’s death.
Mohammed Hussain Syeedy, who ‘assisted and encouraged the attack’ and drove Kadir to the scene, was found guilty of murder and handed a life sentence in September 2016.
During that trial, details emerged of how Kadir and Syeedy developed a hatred of Mr Uddin because he used a form of healing involving amulets - known as taweez - which are said to bring good fortune.
The court was told Kadir, then aged 24, of Chamber Road, Oldham and Syeedy, then 21, of Ramsay Street, Rochdale, were both supporters of ISIS - which considered taweez to be ‘black magic’.
An inquest into Mr Uddin’s death was opened in the days after his killing in February 2016 and adjourned for criminal proceedings to take place.
Following a four-year wait, which was prolonged for reasons including the Covid pandemic, it was finally decided last November that the inquest into Mr Uddin’s death should resume.
Crown court judge Patrick Field QC ruled the inquest must take place to consider if Kadir and Syeedy should have been considered known risks for Islamic extremism by the authorities.
Mr Field had since been presiding over the inquest as coroner - but in a hearing on Friday he stood down from the role after revealing one of his relatives had taken up a job at Greater Manchester Police.
Admitting the move would cause further delay and inconvenience to the family, Mr Field insisted it was the right decision in order to avoid any perceptions of bias in the inquest.
GMP, West Yorkshire Police and the Home Office are all being represented in the inquest, with their knowledge of Kadir and Syeedy set to be examined.
On August 27, Mr Field wrote to all interested parties involved in the case about a family member taking on a job at GMP.
He told the court that at that stage, he did not believe there would be an issue. But four days later GMP responded to him recommending he should withdraw from the inquest - with the other parties in agreement.
Saleh Al Arif, Mr Uddin’s son, listened to Friday’s proceedings through a telephone link and gave no further comment on the issue when prompted by the coroner.
Mr Field added: “No blame must be attributed to anyone for what has happened.
“It’s the unfortunate consequence of a decision that I have reached in accordance with established legal principles.”