on December 03, 2016 at 12:24 PM
PATERSON — A prominent Muslim cleric will once again face deportation charges, eight years after the U.S. government tried to expel him over alleged terrorist ties, according to a report.
Imam Mohammad Qatanani, leader of the Islamic Center of Passaic County, told members of his mosque Friday that he will return to court next week, NorthJersey.com reported.
Christie: Hamas-Linked Mosque “Not Radical Jihadists”
Posted on February 5, 2016
Clarion Project, by Ryan Mauro, Feb. 4, 2016:
GOP presidential candidate New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is still praising a Hamas-linked mosque in his state, saying, “The folks in the local mosque in Paterson, the ones I interact with, they are not radical Islamic jihadists.” He is referring to the Islamic Center of Passaic County—and he’s praised its imam for years even though the Department of Homeland Security is seeking his deportation for his links to Hamas.
You can read our profile of the mosque and its leadership, including Imam Mohammad Qatanani, here.
He was arrested and convicted by Israel for his links to Hamas and then went to NJ to help lead a mosque founded and led by Mohammed El-Mezain, a Hamas operative sentenced to 15 years in prison for financing the terrorist group. El-Mezain was also the chairman of the Holy Land Foundation, which was shut down for being a Muslim Brothehood/Hamas front.
