UK police launch murder probe into Muslim cleric’s death
Jamal Uddin dies in hospital after found in Manchester playground with fatal head injuries; 31-year-old man in custody
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British police have launched a murder investigation and arrested one person over the death of a Muslim cleric whose body was found in a children’s playground in the Rochdale area of Manchester on Thursday.
The 56-year-old imam, Jalal Uddin from Bangladesh, was found Thursday night with a fatal head injury, the Guardian reported. He died shortly afterwards in hospital.
The Guardian said that Uddin had attended evening prayers at the local Jalali Jame mosque and then dined with a friend before he was attacked as he made his way home.
The 31-year-old suspect has been kept in custody. Local Muslim leaders have called for calm.
“We would urge all local mosques in Rochdale to consider emergency security precautions and facilities to help local people return home safely from the mosque,” said Mohammed Shafiq, the head of the Ramadhan Foundation, a Muslim organization based in Greater Manchester. “Furthermore mosques should also consider buddying various people together to ensure vulnerable people are supported.”
The report quoted Rebekah Sutcliffe, the assistant chief constable of Greater Manchester police, as saying that the force is keeping “a completely open mind” about the motive for the attack.
“[W]e do need people to come forward and talk to us,” she said.
Local Labour MP Simon Danczuk said Uddin was “a well-regarded, peaceful man, a very, very gentle man. He was well thought of in his local mosque and among the Bangladeshi community.”
The Times of Israel Community.