Lying Imam Deported

The United States seems to be taking cues from Denmark:

DETROIT — A Muslim leader convicted of lying about his involvement with a suspected terrorist organization has been deported to his native Palestinian territories, immigration authorities said Friday.

Fawaz Damra, 46, was convicted in June 2004 of concealing his ties to Palestinian Islamic Jihad when he applied for U.S. citizenship in 1994.

At his 2004 trial, prosecutors showed video footage of Damra and other Muslim leaders raising money for an arm of the group. He had been jailed in Monroe County, Mich., since a judge ordered his deportation a year ago.

Damra served as imam at Ohio’s largest mosque, the Islamic Center of Cleveland. He was deported on Thursday, said Tim Counts, spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

It’s a significant event, because this Islamist liar had gained American citizenship. He was tried, convicted, had his citizenship revoked, and has been deported to “Palestine”. It took long enough, but he finally has the opportunity to enjoy his new status as a local hero in his native land.

Damra portrayed himself as an innocent victim of racial profiling, Islamophobia, etc blah yak. He is a man of peace who engaged in some youthful indiscretions. Couldn’t anybody see that he’d outgrown all that?

His attorney, Michael Birach, said the imam was a victim of immigration officials who wanted to look tough after the Sept. 11 attacks.

But the federal officials involved must have slept through their diversity training sessions, because they deported him anyway.

Further background on Damra is here. And, strangely enough, you can find a seasonal prayer from the imam from 2003 at this holistic medicine website.
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Fawaz Damra has his own website, naturally. According to his wife,

The media has reported that we will be going to one of five countries. The reality is that the government is giving Fawaz ninety days to have a country accept him (other than Canada and Mexico). This is not any easy task considering what our government has accused him. We are asking those we know who have contacts in other countries to help us, we also appreciate advice from our friends.

What about Saudi Arabia? Libya? North Korea? Surely there is a country out there somewhere which considers condemnation by the United States government grounds for admission…

Good-bye, Fawaz! Good luck in your new life.