Islamic Center of Cleveland Imam Arrested
Yet another prominent American Islamic leader has been arrested, for failing to disclose his past affiliations with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terrorist groups: Prominent Ohio Islamic Leader Indicted.
Imam Fawaz Mohammed Damrah, who leads the Islamic Center of Cleveland, Ohio’s largest mosque, withheld information on his membership or affiliation with several groups, including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, U.S. Attorney Gregory White said.White would not specify the nature of Damrah’s involvement in the groups but said such allegations often involve fund-raising. The indictment did not accuse Damrah, a Palestinian, of committing any terrorist acts.
“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 became a citizen in 1994.
Damrah, 41, was charged with obtaining U.S. citizenship by providing false information. If convicted, he could lose his citizenship and face up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
In February of last year, we noted a report in the Cleveland Plain Dealer that Fawaz Damrah had been identified as “Unindicted Co-Conspirator One” in the indictment of Sami al-Arian. Looks like Damrah has moved up on the list.
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