Family tribute to murdered imam
Jalal was a greatly respected man, a caring and loving soul.
The family of Jalal Uddin has paid tribute to him: “This has been a difficult and arduous journey for us as a family, since those tragic events which transpired on the 18th February 2016. “Having attended court for the past four weeks, listening to the evidence of Jalal's last moments has been the hardest thing we have had to endure as a family. But we take comfort from the fact that the evidence acknowledges that Jalal was a greatly respected man, a caring and loving soul. The evidence has also highlighted how the events leading up to his murder showed what an incredibly cruel and callous attack this was on an innocent elderly man. It was shown that Jalal was unable to defend himself against such brute force making the acts of these perpetrators deplorable and cowardly. “We hope that with all the information which has come out in court, and from within the wider community of Rochdale, it is clear to all that Jalal did not deserve what he was subjected to, not only on the night of the attack, but also the inexplicable events which occurred months prior to his horrific murder, when his personal belongings were taken from within the Jalalia Mosque, in Rochdale, and the fact that he was stalked and filmed without his knowledge months before his murder. “We came to court to seek answers from Mohammed Hassan Syeedy. He has shown no remorse or sympathy towards Jalal or his family, as indicative of his attitude and demeanour throughout the last four weeks. “Weeks prior to his murder, Jalal had intended to return to Bangladesh and be reunited with his wife, children and grandchildren whom he had not seen for some 15 years, in which time he had dedicated his life to selflessly serving his family, trying to make ends meet. “Although Jalal was a Muslim who peacefully practised his faith, he had a love and respect for all religions, cultures and creeds, and the fact that he was murdered by someone inspired by ISIL shows the true nature and barbarity of this organisation and those who serve it. “Jalal's widow has lost a best friend, and one of his son's, who last saw his father when he was 5 years old, and who led his funeral did not even see Jalal's face due to the horrific facial injuries he sustained. Our family has now been left empty, and we have no words which could accurately express our emotions. Jalal was the greatest man in our lives; his smile will never be replaced. They say perfection cannot be achieved, but Jalal came pretty close, as exemplified by his principles, his mannerisms and his incredible love for his family and his religion. “Our family would like to thank everyone for their many kind messages of support; the many people from all the different backgrounds, from all over the UK who have been a source of comfort to us at this time of great difficulty.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Mole, head of the North West Counter Terrorism Unit, said: “First and foremost I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jalal Uddin. He was taken away from his loved ones in what was, quite frankly, a brutal and horrific attack on a lone man. “Although Mohammed Syeedy may not have delivered the fatal blow to Mr Uddin, it is clear that he played an integral role in the murder. “This has been a long and delicate investigation, with a team of detectives working meticulously to fully establish exactly what happened to Jalal and I want to thank them for their work. “I would also like to thank the local community for the patience and support they have shown us throughout this investigation. Their assistance and understanding has been a vital part of this process and they have been a credit to the town of Rochdale. “I hope the outcome here today will bring some closure to Jalal’s family and help them continue to rebuild their lives following their tragic loss.”