Deceased Mr Jalal Uddin, 71
was described as quiet, dignified, well liked and well respected in Rochdale.
The 71-year-old practised
Ruqya, a form of religious healing which involves people receiving Taweez -
which can be in the form of a prayer inside a locket.
The court heard Syeedy and
Kadir exchanged messages over several months about Taweez, describing it as
"shirk", the sin of committing idolatry.
A supporter of Islamic
State has been found guilty of murdering a religious leader from his own mosque
in Rochdale.
Jalal Uddin, was murdered
in a park as he made his way home from the Jalalia Jame mosque in Rochdale
after evening prayers on 18 February.
Mohammed Syeedy, 21, was
convicted of murder after jurors were told he helped plan the attack and was
the getaway driver.
Syeedy was sentenced to
life behind bars with a minimum term of 24 years.
Manchester Crown Court
heard Mr Uddin's killers planned the murder over several months and had grown
to hate the imam because he practised a form of religious healing that is
considered by supporters of IS to be punishable by death.
Counter-terrorism officers
joined the murder investigation when it emerged the prime suspect, Mohammed
Abdul Kadir, 24, had fled the country, jurors heard.
The 24-year-old is still
the subject of an international manhunt.
When police raided Syeedy's
home they found images and recordings which included several pictures of the
21-year-old pointing his index finger to the sky, described in court as a
"salute" that has been adopted by supporters of IS.
WhatsApp images show Syeedy
and others draping a jihadist flag over a road sign in Rochdale.
Another photo shows Syeedy
wearing a bullet proof vest outside the mosque.
Tourt heard that in August
2015, Syeedy and Kadir stole material relating to Mr Uddin's healing practice
from Jalalia Jame mosque.
They set up surveillance of
Mr Uddin, referring him to "the magician" in messages.
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