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Supporters raise $100K for imam in deportation fight

March 5th, 2008 · 12 Comments

iman.jpgThe Associated Press

, N.J. - Followers of a prominent imam have raised nearly $100,000 to help him fight deportation, according to a published report.

has been refused a green card by immigration authorities who said he did not disclose on a previous application that he was arrested in Israel in 1993 and convicted of assisting Hamas militants.

Most of the money was raised by his congregation at the Islamic Center of , according to The Record of Bergen County. Qatanani told the newspaper that he recently submitted a new application for permanent residency after congregants urged him to do so.

A trial is scheduled for May in Newark.

Qatanani’s lawyer, Claudia Slovinsky, told the newspaper that Qatanani was arrested by Israeli authorities in 1993 and interrogated for three months but that he was let go without being notified that he had been charged or convicted.

Qatanani said he was questioned about Palestinian students he’d helped to go to Jordan for schooling. His questioners implied links between some of the students and Hamas. Qatanani denied those ties.

Among those who have written to Immigration Judge Alberto Riefkohl on Qatanani’s behalf is U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-N.J., who has visited Qatanani’s mosque.

“I have seen and heard him foster only tolerant, peaceful, interfaith, ecumenical relations,” Pascrell told the newspaper.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have declined to comment on the case.

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12 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Anonymous // Mar 6, 2008 at 12:34 pm

    I have attended an interfaith conference at this mosque and was frankly quite impressed with the warmth and generosity of this man. I wish him and his family all success in the upcoming case. I hate to say that the American legal system tends to be heavy handed when it comes to issues of race/religion - especially with Moslems.

  • 2 Imam supporter // Mar 6, 2008 at 9:26 pm

    As a Latina, I too had the pleasure to attend the inter-faith services Imam Qatanani held. He is such a generous and warm individual to all that meet him. He has always condemed terrorism, and is always striving to bring all communities together.” injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere! I highly praise congressman Pascrell and all other elected officials who are standing beside this man.

  • 3 Ashraf // Mar 17, 2008 at 11:28 am

    Most Palestinians living in Gaza or West Bank have been detained by Israel just for being Arabs. Israel is a very “unusal” country.

  • 4 Ehab // Apr 16, 2008 at 12:25 pm

    exactly how did he help authorities? no one has been arrested or convicted of the 9-11 terrorist attacks so it’s not likely any info he provided was extremely valuable…especially in the context of his history of anti-isreal hatred and the islamic centers history of supporting terrorists

    beyond that, if he did help authorities he is turning on his own people right? this is called doing anything you can to save your ass…just say what is convenient to the audience your speaking to…taqiyya ya’ll

  • 5 Milan // Apr 16, 2008 at 12:27 pm

    yes assraf,

    and many israeli’s are killed just for being israeli’s and exactly what did all those people in the WTC do to deserve to die?

    those muslims are very unusual

  • 6 maria // Apr 18, 2008 at 11:28 am

    my boyfriend has been detained in neward since september, has been here LEGALLY since the age of 3 where he arrived in the united states from argentina with his family. due to som teouble he was in in 1998, he was tricked into going into the immigration office where he was arrested and detained. he has since won his deportation casse on april 1 which was then appealed by the prosecutor . he is also from paterson, same area as qatanani.what i want to know is where are all the the congressman now when we asked for help, why arent they standing up for him the way they can stand up for qatanani. ive written just about everyone, from corzine up and we either received no response or sorry, we can not help you. i guess if you have enough money, anyone will stand up for you no matter who you are!!

  • 7 Javier Baires // Apr 18, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    write the news papers go to the news

  • 8 annnomonous // May 8, 2008 at 9:32 am

    no milan, ashraf is right arabs are killed for no apparent reason.nd i doubt the conflict between the two countries will ever end unfourtanantly. ehab is right.

    >>palestine <3

  • 9 Na7la // May 9, 2008 at 9:14 am

    THERES A WHOLE BUNCH OF MEXICANS LIVING HERE, ND ARE NOT GOIN THROUGH THE SME THING THAT QATANAI IS BEING PUT THROUGH….. TALK BOUT’ NOT FAIR

  • 10 hibsters // May 12, 2008 at 7:37 am

    qatanani is one of the best imams i kno. all i have to say is that everyone who doesnt agree is just a hater. nd on judjement day, god will punish you for siding with something wrong. long live qatanani! long live muslims!!

  • 11 hibsters // May 12, 2008 at 7:40 am

    i agree with na7la. wtf is up wit all the mexicans living here. they cross the border and the cubans swim and nobody is deporting them. qatanani was arrested for three months, but let go cuz he was found innocent. i still dont get with wat that has to do with whether he can live here or not

  • 12 FOX // Jun 3, 2008 at 8:30 am

    Sorry my Moslem friends, but Israel is not guilty of killing or arresting Arabs for simply being Arab.
    If this were the case there would not be an Arab population left in Israel, and certainly not the 700% growth in the number of Arabs in Israel since 1948.
    I understand your dislike of Israel, but how does it help us make peace? if you see the Israelis as monsters, and make up easily lies which are easily disproved, about them.
    Be well

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