- The Media Line - https://themedialine.org -

Muslim Leader Ousted for Alleged Terror Links

A Muslim community in Cleveland, Ohio, has decided to remove its Imam, or spiritual leader, from his post, for his alleged links to terror, according to the London-based daily A-Sharq Al-Awsat.

Palestinian Fawaz Muhammad Damra, 41, was indicted for holding back information regarding his ties to Palestinian terror organizations when he applied for American citizenship in 1994. He maintains the charges against him are fabricated and that he is innocent.

The court claims he applied for citizenship without specifying he is a member of a number of organizations the U.S. considers supportive of terror, including the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement.

Damra has been linked to ‘Umar ‘Abd A-Rahman who had a part in bombing the World Trade Center in 1993, and Sami Al-‘Urian, a Palestinian academic in Florida who was charged with planning to attack Jews, A-Sharq Al-Awsat reported.

Damra was targeted after he made some detrimental remarks towards Jews in 1991, for which he later apologized. Other than that, he has been described as a moderate Muslim who over the past ten years was involved in outreach efforts drawing together Jews, Christians and Muslims in Cleveland.

Damra is expected to be tried next month and may face up to five years in jail, a $5,000 fine and his citizenship may be rescinded.

A member of his community informed the paper they requested he step down as Imam until the trial sheds some light on the matter.