Last month we reported that according to testimony for the 9/11 commission, Imam Yahya Hendi, the Islamic chaplain chosen to give one of the closing benedictions at the Democratic National Convention, had testified as a character witness on behalf of terrorism suspect Sami al-Arian at his bail hearing: DNC’s Imam Testified for Sami al-Arian.

Here’s an update to this story; at DANEgerus, Imam Hendi apparently posted a comment, denying that he was a character witness for al-Arian:

Dear editor,

I was very saddened with the news against me regarding my prayers at the DNC.

I have been and will continue to be non partisan.

I was asked to pray for the nation and I did. If Republicans were to ask me, I would do it as well.

Never testified on al-arian character.

I was asked to speak as a an expert witness on Islam not character witness. a huge difference.

the court needed some expertise on terms in Islam.

Many blessings.

Imam Hendi

The bail hearing in question took place in March 2003; can one of our legal lizards dig up the transcript somewhere on the web, for verification purposes? (I tried searching Findlaw, but came up with nothing.)

DANEgerus makes a curious comment about the Imam’s post:

An IP banned troll surfed by and tried to dispute via comments using very similar language so it seems likely the gentleman in question has some help surfing and challenging the assertion contained in the 911 commission testimony. I find it likely that supports his earnest intent.

Hmm. I’m not sure I would read that the same way, which is why I’m curious about the bail hearing transcript.

UPDATE at 8/14/04 8:33:04 pm:

At the Georgetown University web site, more information on Imam Yahya Hendi.

Education

Temple University (1993-present). Doctoral candidate in the Department of Religion. (Philosophy and Comparative Religion).

Hartford Seminary (1991-1993). Department of Islamic Studies and Muslim Christian Relations. Masters of Arts in Comparative Religion.

University of Jordan in Amman (1985-1998). BA in Shariah (Islamic Law and Theology) with a minor in Islamic History.

Work Experience

April 1997-present. Chaplain of Islamic Affairs at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.

July 1996-July1998. Community Relations, Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Washington DC.

January 1995-June 1996. Imam “”http://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/al-arian/Docket/doc54.pdf”>detention hearing notice (PDF file) that lists Hendi as “Defendant Al-Arian’s witness” at the March 24, 2003 Detention Hearing before Magistrate Judge Mark Pizzo. (Hat tip: SoCalJustice.)