The imam at the Islamic Center of Passaic County will once again face charges he has ties to terrorist group Hamas, a report says.
Mohammad Qatanani, Imam at the Islamic Center of Passaic County, will face deportation charges next week, a report says. PATERSON -- A prominent Muslim cleric will once again face deportation charges, eight years after the U.S. government tried to expel him over alleged terrorist ties, according to a report.
Imam Mohammad Qatanani, leader of the Islamic Center of Passaic County, told members of his mosque Friday that he will return to court next week, NorthJersey.com reported.
Qatanani, who came to the United States in 1996, had his application for permanent residency denied in 1999 because immigration officials claimed he lied on his green card application about terrorist connections.
Israeli officials claimed that Qatanani admitted to being a member of the militant group Hamas when he was arrested in 1993 visiting the West Bank. The popular imam has denied the allegations.
In a 2008 trial, Qatanani testified in court that he was detained, not arrested, and never told of the conviction by Israeli officials. During the trial he testified about how he was tortured while being detained.
Several high ranking clergy members and state officials came out in support of Qatanani, including Gov. Chris Christie.
In 2008, Christie, then U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, embraced and praised Qatanani as "a man of great goodwill."
A Newark judge later dismissed the case saying the government did not have a strong enough case to link the imam to Hamas.
Homeland Security appealed the ruling and it will head before the same judge Monday, according to NorthJersey.com.
Fausto Giovanny Pinto may be reached at fpinto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @FGPreporting. Find NJ.com on Facebook.