Munir Farooqi, the Manchester Muslim da’ee whose controversial terrorism conviction became the focus of a long-running campaign by his family and supporters, has died in prison, his family announced today.
In a statement, the family described his death as a source of profound grief. “Verily, the eyes shed tears and the heart is grieved, yet we will not say anything but what is pleasing to our Lord,” they wrote, quoting a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
They called Munir Farooqi, 69, a man of faith who had made “immense sacrifices” and said he had remained steadfast throughout his imprisonment. “A man incredibly disciplined, principled and God conscious who never compromised the truth in order to favour himself or hasten his release,” the statement said.
The family said his body remained in Durham where he was imprisoned and asked for prayers for its release so that funeral arrangements could be made. They said details of the janazah and arrangements for receiving condolences would follow. The statement did not give a date or cause of death.
Farooqi was a father of five from Manchester and a familiar figure on the city’s da’wah scene. He ran a stall in the city centre, distributing Islamic literature and speaking to passers-by about Islam.
Between 2008 and 2009, two undercover police officers approached Farooqi through the stall. Posing as men interested in Islam and even pretending to convert to the religion, they spent about a year meeting him and secretly recording conversations in his home, in cars and elsewhere. Prosecutors argued that Farooqi had sought to encourage them to fight in Pakistan or Afghanistan.
In 2011, a jury convicted him of offences including preparing others for acts of terrorism, soliciting murder, disseminating terrorist publications and encouraging terrorism. He received four life sentences, with a minimum term of nine years before he could be considered for parole. His appeal against the convictions and sentence was dismissed in 2013.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
Farooqi denied all criminal wrongdoing, arguing there was no intent, no weapons and no plot. The defence centred on his intent and the religious context of the discussions. His legal team argued that references to jihad were made in the context of defensive jihad — the belief that Muslims may legitimately defend themselves against aggression.
The Court of Appeal summarised his position: “He did not intend anyone to travel to Pakistan or Afghanistan in order to participate in terrorism and he did nothing with the intention of soliciting murder.”
Supporters argued that his comments amounted to political and religious expression rather than criminal incitement.
In recent years, his family had drawn attention to his deteriorating health at HMP Frankland, near Durham. In June, 5Pillars reported their allegations that he had undergone multiple amputations and was being denied medication and medical attention. In Sunday’s statement, the family also said he had lost his sight and hearing.
“We seek the ultimate justice from Allah swt alone for our dear father/husband Munir Farooqi,” the family wrote. They asked people to pray for him and to remember Muslim prisoners.
