Jalal Uddin: Statement by Rochdale Council of Mosques condemning The Times "inappropriate and deeply insensitive headline"

Rochdale Council of Mosques

On Thursday 18 February we were saddened to hear the death of a well-respected former Qari Jalal Uddin, age 64, who was found unconscious with major head injuries in the Wardleworth playzone as he was heading home after he had been at a friend’s house a few hundred yards away. He sadly died after he was taken to the hospital.

We send our condolences to the family and relatives of Mr Uddin. Our prayers and support are for him and his family in these difficult times.

There is currently little known about the case and while the Rochdale Police are treating the investigation as a "murder", we shouldn't jump to any conclusions about what's occurred or the motive behind the attacks.

We have asked our local community to remain patient and to not speculate whilst the police carry out their investigation to avoid unnecessary sensationalism.

We also expect the mainstream media to do the same, however, the story has generated national interest and as expected some people have been quick to formulate an opinion on the potential motivation of the attack without any facts. In particular, a disgusting article headline by the Times titled "Imam beaten to death in sex grooming town" was published. Sadly the headline was read by thousands of people before it was retracted online (but it still went out in the printed versions). The headline breaches clause 1 (accuracy) and clause 12 (discrimination) of the Editors Code of Practice. It is inaccurate as by referring to a 'sex grooming town' it is misleading the public into thinking it could be one of many towns, e.g. Rotherham. 

It is discriminatory because the reference to sex grooming has only been mentioned because of the religion of the elderly man who has died. It implies that the elderly gentleman could have been potentially involved in child grooming as he is from that town or that the whole town is full of groomers. The previous cases of sex grooming are totally irrelevant to the story. 

We are not unwary to believe this was an accident and it is not surprising to see how some national media exploit the death of an old man for political expediency. This headline has caused serious offense to Muslims, and non-Muslims from Rochdale and we strongly condemn the headline which made a spurious link between the purported murder of Jalal Uddin With Rochdale being a "sex grooming town".

Sadly, whenever Muslims are featured in the news we see negative headlines even when a Muslim appears to have been murdered. This type of sensationalist click-bate headline is what creates fear and distrust within society and towns like Rochdale where two disparate issues are somehow conflated to tarnish the reputation of the people of Rochdale and Muslims in particular.

The headline in The Times and the associated picture found alongside on the right of the article, as well as in the Independent and Guardian, demonstrate new depths that the media have fallen to when it comes to reporting Muslims even when little to no information about the murder has come to light.

We will continue to raise complaints and challenge the propaganda peddled by media outlets, but it must be made clear that such propaganda and hatred against Muslims directly perpetuates an anti-Muslim atmosphere from which Islamophobia flourishes and undermines community confidence thereby creating community tensions.

We demand an unreserved apology from The Times, The Independent, The Guardian and any other media outlets who, in the name of journalism, are actually fuelling prejudice and unnecessary community tensions labelling a man who sadly cannot defend himself.

We call upon authorities and our politicians to look into the way media sensationalise news stories and call for a debate in parliament and an independent enquiry into irresponsible/selective reporting of this nature.

The media scaremongering and negative press about Rochdale has meant a tense situation amongst communities. We would like to remind the media of reporting fairly and sensibly, without sensationalising stories that can cause undue concern and alarm.

We ask the media to respect the grieving family, friends and the home town of Jalal Uddin, by not speculating/sensationalising stories for the sake of it.

We would like to urge all to show respect at this very difficult time while the police establish the motive for his death and the Rochdale community coming to terms with what has happened.

Rochdale Council of Mosques