Posted on 11/25/2005 12:02:25 PM PST by oxcart
Ohio imam arrested for deportation Imam Fawaz Damra was convicted in June 2004 CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) -- Federal authorities arrested an Islamic religious leader Friday as they began the process of deporting him for lying about 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. "With today's arrest, ICE begins the process of removing from the United States a criminal alien who has unequivocally supported terrorists and terrorist organizations," Brian Moskowitz, special agent with the federal office in Detroit, said in a statement. A message left seeking comment from Damra's immigration attorney, David Leopold, was not immediately returned. The Palestinian-born Damra, who is the imam, or spiritual leader, at the Islamic Center of Cleveland, immigrated to the United States in the mid-1980s. In Damra's trial last year, prosecutors showed video footage of Damra and other Islamic leaders raising money for an arm of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which has been listed as a major terrorist group by the State Department since 1989. Jurors also were shown footage in which Damra called Jews "the sons of monkeys and pigs" during a 1991 speech and said "terrorism and terrorism alone is the path to liberation" in a 1989 speech.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
"and..."
.... scuttle it with him chained inside a cage
There's no need to waste a boat.
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.
"With today's arrest, ICE begins the process of removing from the United States a criminal alien who has unequivocally supported terrorists and terrorist organizations," Brian Moskowitz, special agent with the federal office in Detroit, said in a statement.
A message left seeking comment from Damra's immigration attorney, David Leopold, was not immediately returned.
The Palestinian-born Damra, who is the imam, or spiritual leader, at the Islamic Center of Cleveland, immigrated to the United States in the mid-1980s.
In Damra's trial last year, prosecutors showed video footage of Damra and other Islamic leaders raising money for an arm of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which has been listed as a major terrorist group by the State Department since 1989.
Jurors also were shown footage in which Damra called Jews "the sons of monkeys and pigs" during a 1991 speech and said "terrorism and terrorism alone is the path to liberation" in a 1989 speech.
U.S. District Judge James Gwin sentenced the Palestinian-born cleric to two months in prison and four months in home detention. Damra served the prison time from November 2004 to January of this year.
Gwin also stripped Damra's citizenship but informed prosecutors they could not begin deportation proceedings until after the appellate ruling.
Throw him in a Falafal stand or pizza parlor alone and adverise a bar mitvah party for a bit of encouragement...
read my mind................................
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1528455/posts
OHIO IMAM IN ICE CUSTODY
Not in MY back yard. Thanks, ICE.
Reminds me of the scene in the Godfather where the brother is knocked off in the boat on the lake. Can't think of his name, though due to the joys of aging...
Guess the ACLU group hug didn't work on this guy.
Glad to see this scummy little weasel go. Cleveland's Catholic Bishop Pilla was kissy kissy with him some years ago. Wonder what he thinks about his buddy now?
Agreed.
The photo of Bishop Pilla and the Terrorist-Imam was taken at an interfaith service right after 9-11-01. That was before most of the dirt came out about the terrorism ties. At that time it was politically correct to be nice to Muslims. Maybe it still is, but I'm not one to be nice.
I'm not inclined to be nice, either. I see and hear how they behave in my neighborhood.
How you like Gaza you puke.
I didn't realize deportation was a crime.
Hmmm...
Anyone from a cult should be dealt with severely. And yes, islam is a CULT of hate and intolerance. The US constitution applies to CITIZENS of the US.
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