[statecom-discuss] Fwd: URGENT: PROMINENT BOSTON-AREA IMAMS ARRESTED IN IMMIGRATION SWEEP

[David Rolde]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "DAVID KEIL" <dmkeil at gmail.com>
> Date: November 16, 2006 10:47:34 PM EST
> To: "Mideast Crisis Coalition"  
> <MECrisisCoalition at yahoogroups.com>,  STWCplan at googlegroups.com
> Subject: [STWCplan] Fwd: URGENT: PROMINENT BOSTON-AREA IMAMS  
> ARRESTED IN IMMIGRATION SWEEP
> Reply-To: STWCplan at googlegroups.com
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: MAS INFO <masnet-service at maslists.org>
> Date: Nov 16, 2006 4:20 PM
> Subject: URGENT ACTION ALERT: PROMINENT BOSTON-AREA IMAMS ARRESTED  
> IN IMMIGRATION SWEEP
> To: dmkeil at gmail.com
> In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
>
> Urgent Action Alert: Prominent Boston-Area Imams Arrested in  
> Immigration Sweep
>
> WASHINGTON, DC - Nov. 16, 2006 (MASNET) The Muslim American Society  
> Freedom Foundation has just been informed that two prominent Muslim  
> leaders, Imam Hafiz Masood and Imam Abdul Hannan, were arrested  
> this morning in Boston, in connection with the arrests of dozens of  
> Pakistani immigrants by Immigration and Customs officials and local  
> police.
>
> The arrests were for alleged violations of immigration laws by  
> numerous individuals who are charged with fraudulently entering the  
> United States as religious workers when they were, in fact,  
> employed as taxi drivers, gas station attendants, and in other  
> occupations.
>
> While all of the facts incident to the arrests are not yet known,  
> we do know that Imam Hafiz Masood, a respected leader and Imam of  
> the New England Islamic Center in Sharon, Massachusetts, has been  
> in the U.S. since the early 1990's.  He and his family went this  
> morning to an interview with immigration officials, driven to the  
> appointment by Imam Hannan, where they were arrested.  The two  
> Imams and Imam Masood's eldest son still remain in custody.
>
> About one year ago, Imam Masood, who is applying with his family  
> for permanent residence in the country, was informed that his  
> application papers were completely in order and that it was  
> perfectly legal for him to work in the Unites States as a religious  
> teacher.
>
> Many members of the Boston Muslim community are naturally  
> concerned, and even fearful, in the aftermath of these arrests.  
> Hossam Al-Jabri, President of the Muslim American Society Boston  
> chapter, noted that "He (Imam Masood) has always been a voice of  
> peace and wisdom, and I hope that immigration officials will be  
> sensitive to his leadership position in the community, and insure  
> that appropriate measures are taken to bring a fair and speedy  
> resolution to this issue."
>
> Imam Abdul Hannan of the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell, has  
> served as a leader in the Lowell Islamic community for many years.   
> His arrest has also drawn the attention of civil rights  
> organizations, who see both arrests as evidence of another strike  
> at a Muslim community already unfairly attacked by law enforcement  
> officials.
>
> "On the surface, this appears to be yet another action unfairly  
> targeting the local Muslim community" said Nancy Murray, Director  
> of the Boston ACLU's Civil Liberties task Force. "We're looking to  
> get more information."
>
> Attorney William Joyce, who serves as the lawyer for Imam Masood,  
> was even more blunt in his assessment of the treatment of his  
> client." I'm extremely troubled by the way this came about, and I  
> believe that Imam Masood and Abdul Hannan will both be vindicated.  
> The way this all came about is a disgrace. They (immigration  
> officials) wouldn't go to the Cardinal's residence and arrest him  
> for an immigration technicality."
>
> The MAS Freedom Foundation is awaiting further developments related  
> to the arrests, and we will post updates as soon as they are  
> available.
>
> However, Ibrahim Ramey of the MAS Freedom Foundation Human and  
> Civil Rights Division was quick to comment that "The arrests of  
> these two Imams by immigration officials and police clearly  
> demonstrate that the climate for fear and presumed guilt is still  
> operating in America.  Muslims are frequently assumed guilty until  
> proven innocent, and there is little, if any, respect shown to our  
> elders and community leaders. The kind of mass arrests we saw in  
> the aftermath of the September, 2001 attacks imprisoned countless  
> innocent Muslims, but did nothing to make the nation more secure."
>
> "We're calling on those officials responsible for the arrests of  
> the Imams to resolve the matter quickly, to explain their actions  
> to the Muslim community of Boston, and to show both respect and  
> restraint in the future."
>
> Your support of MAS Freedom Foundation initiatives is crucial to  
> its continued efforts on behalf of the Muslim American community.   
> Please donate generously by mailing your contributions made payable  
> to "MAS Freedom Foundation" at the address below.
>
> Thank you for your support.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------
>
> The Freedom Foundation is the public affairs arm of the Muslim  
> American Society (MAS), a national grassroots religious, social,  
> and educational organization. MAS is America's largest grassroots  
> Muslim organization with over 50 chapters nationwide. Learn more at  
> www.masnet.org.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> MAS Freedom Foundation
>
> 1050 17th Street NW, Suite 600
>
> Washington, DC 20036
>
> Tel: (202) 496-1288
>
> Fax: (202) 463-0686
>
> URL: http://www.masnet.org/index_publicaffairs.asp
>
> Email: MAS4Freedom at aol.com
>
>
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