Imam convicted of lying seeks prison postponement

CLEVELAND (AP) -- A mosque leader convicted of lying about his past connections to terrorist groups asked a judge to postpone the date he goes to prison because of his wife's depression.
Imam Fawaz Damra, 42, of Strongsville, was sentenced to two months in prison and four months of house arrest after being convicted of lying about connections to terrorist groups when he applied in 1994 to become a citizen.
U.S. District Judge James Gwin also revoked Damra's citizenship.
In court documents, Damra said his wife, Nesreen, cannot take care of their three children and work while he is in prison. Damra is scheduled to report to prison Nov. 22.
Damra, the Palestinian-born leader of Ohio's largest mosque, wants to report in January after his in-laws arrive from Jordan to watch the children.
Gwin already had pushed the sentence back once so Damra could be with his congregation during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Moroney said he expects his office will oppose the latest request.
Defense attorney Larry Zukerman said in documents that Nesreen Damra, 35, was diagnosed with clinical depression Oct. 26. Zukerman included a doctor's note that says Nesreen is "suffering clinical depression due to multiple stressors in her life."
"She is taking anti-depressants for her condition and is unable to work to support her family while her husband is incarcerated," Zukerman said in the court documents filed last week.
Besides serving as imam, Damra and his wife own a dollar store in Euclid.