NEWARK -- Hundreds of supporters of the Paterson imam facing deportation rallied outside a federal building Friday to support the spiritual leader who they say is an important voice of moderation.

"He played a vital role in building bridges across faiths and across ethnicities, promoting tolerance and instilling in us great values" said Yousef Abdallah, president of the North Hudson Islamic Education Center, said of Mohammad Qatanani, the imam of Center of Passaic County.

More than 300 supporters withstood pouring rain and biting wind to participate in the rally organized by Americans For Qatanani, a grassroots organization formed to help the imam fight the charges.

Among the speakers was Brooklyn Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who was an un-indicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

Wahhaj said that Qatanani represented the best of what the country had to offer, a model citizen who had given a lot to Passaic County, the state and the country.

"We are witnesses that this is a very honorable man," Wahhaj said in his brief remarks. "He is a voice of reason. He is a voice of moderation. He is a voice of peace."

Wahhaj later led the group in Friday prayers at a nearby mosque where their numbers swelled.

Aref Assaf, the spokesman for Americans for Qatanani, said the group was aware of Wahhaj's background, but made the decision to invite him because he would attract people to the event and because he offered a different view of a Muslim imam.

"He was there to give the Friday sermon, he was not there to defend the imam or speak on his behalf," Assaf said. "He was not there to give a political speech on behalf of the imam. But still he was very strong in his condemnation of discriminatory practices against Muslims in America, and as he always does, he re-emphasized the need to be strong as a community and be very vigilant about our rights."

When Qatanani emerged from the courtroom in the early afternoon as the rally was winding down, his supporters moved toward the yellow tape where they had been cordoned off.

Speaker after speaker talked about Qatanani's willingness to work with other faiths. Some shared personal stories of their connection to Qatanani. Amina Kansay 24, a veterinary technician from Paterson, said that Qatanani officiated at her wedding to Cihat Kansay, 26, in February. He counseled them on what to expect from marriage, she said.

"He just opened our eyes," Kansay said. "When he talks to you, you feel like he is so close to you. He becomes like your uncle."

Clifton resident Mohammed Aly, 36, came with his son and his wife and took the day off from his accounting job to attend.

"It would be a sad day for me, and for the future, the future of my children," if Qatanani was deported, Aly said.