U.S.A.-BOSTON: ***UPDATE***3 IMAMS ARRESTED - - - VISA FRAUD CASE ***UPDATE***

This is an update on the story I posted originally on November 16, 3006:

2 Imams Arrested At Boston Mosques

Imams arrested in America are relatives of LeT founder Saeed
Amir Mir

LAHORE: The Pakistani authorities have confirmed the American findings that the imams of three mosques arrested on November 15 in Boston happen to be the close relatives of the founder of the deadly Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, who now heads the Jamaatul Daawa.

Pakistani interior ministry sources said that the three Boston-based imams — Hafiz Muhammad Hannan Hafiz Muhammad Masood and Hafiz Mohammad Hamid — are close relatives of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.

The sources said they have informed the American authorities that while Hafiz Muhammad Masood and Hafiz Hamid happen to be the real brother of Saeed, Hafiz Muhammad Hannan is his brother-in-law.

Hafiz Masood is an imam at the Islamic Centre of New England, Sharon, Massachusetts, Hannan is an imam at the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell, Massachusetts while Hamid is an imam at the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester, Massachusetts.

According to the interior ministry sources in Islamabad, the American authorities had sought confirmation of their findings about three imams who were arrested for visa violations, before being released on a bail of $7,500 each.

The sources said the arrest of 30 people in November was part of a wide swoop carried out by the American Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency in eight states and the district of Columbia in connection with an ongoing investigation into a visa fraud scheme.

The scheme was designed to help a large number of illegal aliens, primarily from Pakistan, fraudulently obtain religious worker visas to enter or remain in the United States.

According to the findings of American Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Hafiz Masood, Haif Hamid and Hafiz Hannan came to the United States in 1988 on a student exchange visa to Boston University and studied there till 1990, but stayed on, violating his visa status.

The sources say although the three imams have been released on bail, they are still facing legal proceedings and there are chances of their being deported to Pakistan especially after their family relations with Hafiz Saeed have been confirmed.

...

But it appears that the 'imams' had anger and support on their side:

IMMIGRATION OUTCRY - Anger and support: Imam’s detention under fire
By LANE LAMBERTThe Patriot Ledger

SHARON - As he awaits an immigration hearing on alleged visa violations, Imam Hafiz Muhammad Masood is drawing widespread support from interfaith clergy and Muslim groups - and the angry, determined backing of his congregation.

‘‘The detention of a leader like this is a really shameful act,’’ said S. Quadri of Dedham as he and other members filtered out of the Islamic Center of New England after Friday afternoon’s prayer service.

‘‘We’re feeling hurt,’’ said Abdul Sesay of Norfolk, a former Quincy resident and an Islamic Center member since 1983. ‘‘He’s a very good imam. He’s humble, and he’s always with the people.’’

Quadri and Sesay are among hundreds of local Muslims who were stunned by Imam Masood’s arrest Wednesday morning.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Imam Masood was among 33 people who were picked up in eight states and the District of Columbia for a variety of administrative violations for religious worker visas.

Most are Pakistani, including Imam Masood and his son Hassan. They and Imam Abdul Hannan of the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell are reportedly being held in the Plymouth County House of Correction.

Both imams could have bail hearings in federal immigration court in Boston next Tuesday.

Imam Masood had applied for a green card, but reportedly was picked up for overstaying his visa. His attorney, William P. Joyce of Boston, couldn’t be reached yesterday to confirm that.

A statement posted on the Islamic Center’s Web site said the manner is which immigration agents detained Imam Masood was ‘‘deeply humiliating,’’ and seems to be ‘‘a direct attack on our religion and community.’’

Imam Masood is 48 and has been the spiritual director at the Sharon mosque since 1998. Before that he was a student at Boston University, imam in the Boston area and a teacher at the Islamic school in Sharon. He earned an economics degree and received religious training in Pakistan in the 1980s.

As Islamic Center members await word on his case, the imam has drawn quick support from the Muslim American Society in Boston - which calls him ‘‘a voice of peace and wisdom’’ - and the Sharon Clergy Association, which includes Roman Catholic, Protestant and Jewish religious leaders as well as Imam Masood.

‘‘Imam Masood is a valued colleague in our clergy association and a valued religious leader in the Sharon community,’’ the clergy group said in a prepared statement. ‘‘He has reached out with the hand of friendship to help create an atmosphere of understanding amongst the religious communities and has helped all of us to appreciate the need for peaceful and mutual dialogue.’’

Quadri recalled the chat he’d had with Imam Masood the previous Sunday, about ethics lessons for the mosque’s youth group, while Sesay spoke of how quickly Imam Masood offered to say prayers for his mother when she died two years ago.

And he always preaches about two things, Sesay added. ‘‘He tells you how it is, from the book,’’ he said, referring to the Quran. ‘‘And he always tells us to respect the government and the law.’’


Pertinent Links:

1) Imams arrested in America are relatives of LeT founder Saeed

2) IMMIGRATION OUTCRY - Anger and support: Imam’s detention under fire