"A prominent Islamic clergyman was arrested Tuesday on an indictment alleging he concealed links to groups that committed terrorist attacks against Jews when he applied for U.S. citizenship a decade ago, officials said." This from AP.
"Imam Fawaz Mohammed Damrah, who leads the Islamic Center of Cleveland, Ohio's largest mosque, is accused of withholding information on his membership or affiliation with several groups, including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, U.S. Attorney Gregory White said.
"White said the indictment did not allege that Damrah, a Palestinian, committed any terrorist activities. The indictment did not specify what type of support Damrah may have provided to any of the groups.
"Damrah, 41, who also uses the name Fawaz Damra, was charged with unlawfully obtaining U.S. citizenship by providing false or fraudulent information, White said. He gained citizenship in 1994. If convicted, he could face loss of his citizenship, up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
"Palestinian Islamic Jihad has been identified by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization, White said. Other groups for which Damrah is accused of concealing an affiliation or membership were Afghan Refugees Services Inc., also known as Al-Kifah Refugee Center, and the Islamic Committee for Palestine, also known as Islamic Concern Project.
"Damrah has been a permanent resident in the United States since 1988, White said. Damrah's past has been public knowledge for several years. White would not say why the indictment has been filed now. 'We are strictly dealing with issues, activities and incidents prior to his becoming a naturalized citizen and what he was required to disclose' to gain citizenship, White said.
"Damrah represented the Islamic community at interfaith gatherings in Cleveland after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Then, local TV stations broadcast a videotape from a Chicago gathering 10 years earlier showing him making anti-Jewish comments in a speech. He called for rifles to be directed at Jewish people, and referring to them as 'the sons of monkeys and pigs.'
"He apologized for the remarks, saying they were made before he had any interaction with Jews and Christians. But a local community college replaced him in late 2001 as the teacher of a course on Islam."
So once he met Jews and Christians, he realized they were nice folks and not the sons of monkeys and pigs after all? Forgive me if I doubt this. The Qur'an says that Jews are under Allah's curse and were changed by him into monkeys and pigs in Suras 2:62-65, 5:59-60, and 7:166. Christians are thrown in in 5:59-60. Radical Muslims around the world commonly refer to Jews, and sometimes also to Christians, by these epithets. If Damrah was also used to making the connection between these Qur'an passages and today's Jews and Christians, it's unlikely that any experience he had with the sons of monkeys and pigs themselves would have changed his view; it's much more likely that the pressure made him realize it was prudent to shut up about it.
To Robert:
When one becomes a citizen, one takes an oath of allegiance, of loyalty, to the United States. If one is found to have lied, one's citizenship can be taken away. But Muslim doctrine is clear: loyalty is to the umma al-islammiyya, one's fellow Muslims. Loyalty to Islam and to Muslims MUST take precedence over any other loyalty; indeed, there should NOT be any other loyalty. This comes through clearly in Qur'an and hadith, and in the works of the major theologians, through 1350 years of Muslim history. I know that a handful of Muslims have served in the army, but that does NOT mean that a few individuals change basic Muslim doctrine, nor even that service (for the handful who do serve) reflects considerations other than personal darura (necessity).
I'm delighted that Imam Damra has been arrested. It's about time that the US gov't started cracking on the "religious" bigots. As luck would have it, I have a copy of "Discovering Islam" compiled by Dr. Ahmed Yousef and Imam Fawaz Damra. For those who want to see the brochure from the Islamic Center of Cleveland, please send me your street address. El Colombiano
One question:if his past activities have been known for several years,why on earth,was this guy granted US citizenship??!!
One by one,as it turns out,all mosques in the US,and the ones in all western countries,for that matter,are breeding grounds for muslim fanatic terrorists....why not close down all of them?!
How many christian churches are there in Saudi Arabia??!!
Why should we allow them to use the freedom of religion ,as a weapon against us??!!