OHIO MOSQUE Congregation prays for convicted imam
Nearly 1500 people prayed, a member said.
PARMA, Ohio (AP) -- The leader of Ohio's largest mosque encouraged his congregation to keep faith in times of stress, a day after he was convicted of gaining U.S. citizenship by concealing past associations with terrorist organizations.
Fawaz Damra, 41, did not discuss his trial or conviction, but spoke of the Koran's teachings about justice and faith, congregation members said Friday after the service, which was closed to the press.
Deem Alawan, a member of the Islamic Center of Cleveland, said nearly 1,500 people prayed with Damra, about double the normal turnout for a Friday afternoon service.
"Today he gave a wonderful sermon on trusting in the faith of God and that things happen for reasons. He said to take our adverse moments with a smile," Alawan said. "A lot of individuals gave him their support today."
Sentencing to come
The Palestinian-born Damra, imam of the spacious gold-domed mosque in this Cleveland suburb, could be sentenced Sept. 9 to as much as five years in prison and be stripped of his citizenship, which could lead to deportation. He remains free on bond.
Defense lawyer John Cline has said Damra will continue a legal fight to be exonerated.
Prosecutors said that when Damra applied in 1993 for citizenship, he concealed ties to Afghan Refugee Services, the Islamic Committee for Palestine and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, groups the government classifies as terrorist organizations.
The sermon a day after the verdict was a highly emotional experience at the mosque, said congregation member Momsoor Ahmed.
"He didn't talk about anything specific to the case," Ahmed said. "It was more biblical background of justice and how it has been served in past times. He was of course heartbroken and of course is emotional, just like any human being proud of being a U.S. citizen and then backed in a corner to justify your existence. But he was very balanced. His sermon was very sobering."
Sadness in the air
A sense of sadness was evident among those praying, Ahmed said.
"People justly feel sad about the whole affair, because he has been the imam for the mosque for many years. Obviously people feel sadness with respect to the outcome and the specter of him being deported," Ahmed said.
Another person at the prayer service, Mohammed Sohrabi, also had attended Damra's trial. Sohrabi said he doubts the federal jury understood the complexity of issues involving Palestinians. He took note of an unusual level of camaraderie at the mosque Friday.
"At the end of prayers people usually greet each other and then they leave to get out of this parking lot. Today it took longer," he said, explaining that people who attended lined up to speak to Damra.
"I think that overall the community has learned about how in time of crisis how to act and respond. Everybody is still attending and I believe the support is there," Sohrabi said.