Imam Fawaz Damra's American dream ended Thursday. His mosque, the Islamic Center of Greater Cleveland, must struggle with the possibility of losing its leader. And Damra, convicted Thursday in federal court of lying about past links to terrorist groups, must find a new country to call home since he almost certainly will be stripped of his citizenship.
He sacrificed it all, a jury concluded, to persecute Jews. "This is a victory in the war on terrorism," said Cherie Krigsman, a federal prosecutor. "He had serious and long-lasting ties to a terrorist organization that persecuted Jews and others." A panel of eight women and four men deliberated four hours before finding the Palestinian-born Damra guilty of lying on his immigration form in 1994. He will be sentenced Sept. 9, two days before the third anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks on American soil. Damra faces up to five years in prison and deportation, and remains free on bond.
EFL, more at link. |