CLEVELAND Judge: Islamic cleric can lead mosque prayer

The cleric's congregation is to vote on whether his full duties will be restored.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- An Islamic cleric accused of concealing ties to terrorist groups will be able to lead prayer at his mosque at least temporarily, pending a vote by his congregation, a judge ruled Thursday.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Tim McCormick has been seeking to find common ground in a dispute between factions of the Islamic Center of Cleveland concerning Imam Fawaz Mohammed Damrah's status.
Damrah, 41, who also spells his name Damra, has pleaded innocent to a federal indictment of obtaining U.S. citizenship by providing false information. He is accused of past involvement with groups involved with terrorism and concealing those affiliations when he applied for citizenship in the mid-1990s.
Some members of the mosque in suburban Parma want Damrah to go on leave while he defends himself against the federal charge. But after Damrah and his supporters objected, the center's leadership went to court seeking an order enforcing the leave.
Previous order
Judge McCormick's court order last week allowed Damrah to lead prayer services last Friday and again during a Muslim holiday Sunday. The judge's new order came in time for this today's prayer service.
Damrah's lawyer, Saeid B. Amini, had asked the judge to allow the imam to lead prayer at least until a congregational meeting in March.
The new order allows Damrah to continue his cleric duties at the mosque on alternative Fridays, leading up to a congregational meeting March 7.
That day his congregation will vote on whether the imam will be placed on paid administrative leave or restored to his full duties and privileges under his employment contract.
A guest prayer leader will handle services Feb. 13 and Feb. 27, and Damrah is not allowed to participate in those services.
In the services he leads, the judge's order restricts him to "matters of a religious nature only."
Damrah shall otherwise have full access to the mosque and perform his regular duties, but members may request weddings and funerals be performed by someone else.