Aref Assaf, "Flimsy Allegations"

Re: Paterson imam denies ties to Hamas
Saturday, April 26, 2008, BY ELIZABETH LLORENTE, STAFF WRITER

It's an unfortunate reflection of our times that the allegation of "membership in Hamas" sells newspapers and is used by the press regardless of the flimsiness of the allegation. "Paterson imam denies ties to Hamas" (Page A-4, April 26), which was based on a report by The Associated Press, does not question the verifiability of the claim or its source. The crux of the AP article rehashes Israel's claims about Imam Mohammad Qatanani's supposed confession to membership in Hamas.

We, of course, discredit such claims and will so prove in court. It is important to state that the U.S. government does not charge the imam with being or having been a member of any blacklisted organizations. The U.S. government's main charge is alleged misrepresentation in the immigration application about arrests or convictions before arrival in the United States. This claim, too, is baseless, as the imam has been completely forthright regarding his three-month detention by the Israeli military in 1993, during the first intifada.

The imam has consistently stated that, while detained by Israel, he had never seen an Israeli judge, never appeared in court, never confessed nor admitted to any alleged illegal memberships. We find nothing new in the article, and its claim is based not on authenticated official documents, but on a faxed statement from an unidentified Israeli office stating that it has "documents" alleging his admission of membership in Hamas and subsequent conviction and fine.

It is our belief that the imam's case will be won, and that he and his family will get the legal permanent residence they deserve after nine years of waiting. For the imam's plea is also that of thousands of American citizens who have championed his cause.

Aref Assaf

Paterson, April 30

The writer is president of the American Arab Forum.