Jalal Uddin: Council leader condemns Times "slur against Rochdale" as "reckless and ill-informed"

Council Leader Richard Farnell condemns Times "slur against Rochdale"

Councillor Richard Farnell, Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, has condemned an article in The Times headlined, 'Imam beaten to death in sex grooming town', as a "slur against Rochdale" and as "reckless and ill-informed".

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/101219/anger-over-offensive-times-sex-grooming-town-headline

In a letter he is sending jointly with Tony Lloyd, Interim Mayor of Greater Manchester, to the Editor of The Times, Councillor Farnell has demanded an apology and invited the editor to visit the borough.

Councillor Farnell said: “I was appalled to see the article in The Times, it was irresponsible reporting that was a slur against Rochdale and our communities. I have spoken to the Interim Mayor over the weekend and we are sending a joint letter to the editor pointing out the offence and upset caused to Mr Uddin’s family and the people of Rochdale and demanding an apology. We have also invited the editor to visit the borough to see how our diverse community lives and thrives together and how unjust their reckless and ill-informed article was.”

Councillor Farnell went on to say: “Our thoughts are with Mr Uddin’s family at this most traumatic of times and we hope that the perpetrator of this awful crime is apprehended quickly.”