Muslim cleric stripped of U.S. citizenship

msnbc ^ | 9-24-04

[LouAvul]

AKRON, Ohio - The leader of Ohio’s largest mosque has been stripped of his citizenship as punishment for a terrorism-related conviction but can’t be deported until a federal court hears his appeal, which could take 18 months.

Imam Fawaz Damra had his citizenship revoked Thursday by U.S. District Judge James S. Gwin for being found guilty of lying about connections to terrorist groups when he applied in 1994 to become a citizen.

Gwin on Monday sentenced the Palestinian-born Damra to two months in prison and four months of home detention. He said Damra, who remained free on bond, could start serving his sentence on Nov. 22, after the Muslim holiday of Ramadan ends.

Prosecutors told Gwin the government wouldn’t try to deport Damra until after the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals hears the appeal of his conviction. Many appeals take 14 to 18 months.

[LouAvul]

For terrorist related crimes in times of war he should get a lot worse than this.

[Lancer_N3502A]

Beat It! And don't let the door hit ya on the a$$ on the way out.

[ClaireSolt]

Hey, I've seen on TV where the judge renders a verdict and the officers of the court are standing ready to escort the convict on to jail. I think we should institute such procedures in our immigration courts instead of letting them disappear.

[DannyTN]

Buh bye!

[Guillermo]

Where is CAIR and all the other leftist Mohammedan adoring groups?

[lancer]

You be careful of that name, boy...(:-)

[Paleo Conservative]

when he applied in 1994 to become a citizen.

Well the feds weren't screening applicants for naturalized citizenship too closely back then. Bill Clinton and Al Gore were making sure as many new citizens as possible would be eligible to vote in 1996. Even so, they still were unable to get a majority of the popular vote.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Damra was convicted in June of concealing ties to Afghan Refugee Services, the Islamic Committee for Palestine and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, groups the government classifies as terrorist organizations."

I wonder what "ties" he had.

[EagleUSA]

I hope this starts a BIG trend -- its time to clean house in America!!!

[bikepacker67]

You do know that in all likelihood, we'll end up having to kill him in some Godforsakenstan.

I say we cut to the chase.

[Gary - Peters]

14 to 18 months - plenty of additional time for him to open up his own 7-11 or gas station, blow up a few buildings, you know, the usual hobbies of irritated muslims.

[Lancer_N3502A]

Yuk Yuk Yuk

[sweetiepiezer]

Shoot him.

[Horatio Gates]

He said Damra, who remained free on bond, could start serving his sentence on Nov. 22, after the Muslim holiday of Ramadan ends.

How nice. I suppose I won't pay my debts either until Nov 22nd. How could I forget about Ramadan? /sarc

[SittinYonder]

This is the kind of un-American behavior being exhibited by Muslims that I was talking about before. You may condemn the terrorism, you may be philosophically opposed to it, but many of your religion are not.

Deporting Muslims who support terrorism is too kind to the Muslims who support terrorism.

[modest proposal]

lol. How about burning korans in front of him?

[Gary - Peters]

How about beheading the SOB, slowly, and sending the tape to al jazeera.

[Fast1]

Get out!

[modest proposal]

No. Do not sink to the level of the beasts.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

[reagan_fanatic]

said Damra, who remained free on bond, could start serving his sentence on Nov. 22, after the Muslim holiday of Ramadan ends.

Wow. I'm sure if a Christian were convicted of a crime, they would not have to serve their sentence until after their religious holidays were over with.

(/s)