Family's tribute to popular mosque founding member

POPULAR . . .Arab Ali

TRIBUTES have been paid to a respected community elder who died on a flight from Dubai to Manchester Airport.

Arab Ali (71) was a well-known figurehead in Chadderton and Oldham as a founding member and treasurer of the Oldham Mosque and Islamic Centre on Middleton Road.

Mr Ali, a retired father-of-seven with two grandchildren, was flying home from a three-month holiday visiting relatives in Bangladesh.

His family believe he died peacefully in his sleep in his seat shortly before the Emirates flight touched down at Manchester Airport at around 7.30am on Monday. Family members were told the news as they waited for him at the airport's arrivals hall.

Mr Ali's death is not being treated as suspicious and a post-mortem examination to determine a cause is due to be held at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Mr Ali lived with his wife on Garforth Street in Chadderton. Born in Bangladesh, he emigrated to the UK in the 1950s and worked in the cotton mills for more than 40 years.

His son, Mohammed Ali (28) said a doctor or a medic who was on board the plane confirmed he had died.

Paying tribute to his father, who was also an avid Manchester United fan, he said: "He helped establish one of the very first mosques in Oldham.

"People would come to him with problems and he would help out and mediate.

"He was well respected in his community and was friends with the late Oldham MP Michael Meacher as well as many Oldham councillors.

"People have been coming to the house for the last couple of days from across the country to pay their respects. He was a chatterbox and was very social.

"He was a bubbly kind of guy and was very loving. He was very charitable and he would often donate money to those in need."

Mr Ali said his father was declared dead shortly before the plane landed.

He added: "Apparently there was a doctor or some sort of medical person on board.

"We think that a passenger who was sat near to him realised that something could be wrong and they raised the alarm.

"We think that he might have passed away in his sleep ­- during a nap.

"He had a massive heart operation two years ago and we think it could be related to that."

The family have called on pathologists at the MRI to complete their examinations as soon as possible so he can be laid to rest in accordance with Islamic tradition.

"He was a big character and he will be sadly missed," added Mr Ali.