Ohio Cleric to Be Deported for Terror Ties

[Algorem]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5438634,00.html

CLEVELAND (AP) - Federal authorities arrested an Islamic religious leader Friday as they began the process of deporting him for his ties to terrorist groups.

Imam Fawaz Damra, the spiritual leader of Ohio's largest mosque, was convicted in June 2004 of concealing ties to three groups that the U.S. government classifies as terrorist organizations when he applied for U.S. citizenship in 1994.

That conviction was upheld in March, clearing the way for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to begin deportation proceedings.

Damra, 44, was arrested early Friday without incident, the immigration office said...

[msongs]

1. darn, thot maybe it was falwell, dobson, or robertson being kicked out nt

[madmark]

2. If they really were part of al quada why are they deported; they

should be held as a prisoner of war. If they are deporting the guy it makes me think that US isn't serious about any al quada link.

[PittPoliSci]

6. i agree.

he should be arrested and kept in jail if he is indeed a terrorist, not thrown out and allowed to run loose.

[Ian David]

3. Here's some of his material from NOW with Bill Moyers

""{Muslims should be} directing all rifles at the first and last enemy of the Islamic nation, and that is the sons of monkeys and pigs, the Jews." Fawaz Damra, 1991

"I regret saying what I said in that tape because that is not what my faith teaches me, not what civilized society stands for." Fawaz Damra, 2001

How convenient that he suddenly became moderate after 9-11.

More:
http://www.pbs.org/now/society/imam.html

[rayofreason]

5. Funny that.

[Ian David]

4. Here's some more...

Brazen Damra
Sorry I missed a few days, I was working on a massive project for MSNBC that I will pass on as soon as it goes up - I'll be interested in your feedback.

Meanwhile, this guy just can't take a clue or just doesn't care:

The Cleveland imam charged with hiding his ties to terror hopes to visit a Virginia group that prosecutors say is a front for Hamas.

It's unclear if Fawaz Damra who has denied any connection to terrorists will make the trip this weekend. A federal judge has forbidden the Palestinian cleric from leaving Northeast Ohio until the charges against him are resolved.

Yet Damra's attorney this week sought a three- day reprieve so that Damra could accept an invitation to the United Association for Studies and Research in Springfield, Va.

Prosecutors strongly oppose Damra's request, saying that the group is affiliated with a who's who of terror funding. Ahmed Yousef, the group's leader and the man who invited Damra, has been identified by some as the chief of Hamas operations in the United States.

More:
http://www.cleveland.com/weblogs/cleve-blog/index.ssf?/mtlogs/cleveblog/archives/2004_03.html