Monday, July 23, 2007
News flash! It looks like the case of local Imam Muhammad Masood is about to go beyond a simple immigration matter, and into the criminal:
...Last Thursday, the US Attorney's Office, interrogated Imam Masood for six hours during which he was threatened with jail, "humiliation" and abandonment from the community, unless he "cooperated." Cooperation entailed answering questions about many well respected mainstream leaders and organizations in the Boston Muslim community [Like the Muslim American Society perhaps? -S], many of whom are involved in a monthly dialogue project with law enforcement agencies called BRIDGES (Building Respect in Diverse Groups to Enhance Sensitivity). This fishing expedition is an apparent witch hunt to seek or manufacture any sort of incriminating information against community leaders. The Imam did not have information which the US Attorney's office was apparently hoping for. Consequently he was informed that he will be indicted and that he will stand Monday July 23rd at the U.S. District Court 1 Courthouse Way, Courtroom 24, 7th Floor at 2:30 pm to be charged with a criminal complaint...
Miss Kelly has much more: Criminal Charges for Imam Masood?, as well as speculation that this could be about connections to his brother, terrorist Sheik Hafiz Saeed, as well as an attempt to unravel other local connections: Lest We Forget Masood's Kin...
Update 7/24/07: Case is now criminal.
Hi, Sol --
Don't know if you've seen this, but it relates:
We routinely speak of failed governments and failed societies overseas. So what are we doing about ‘failed’ Muslim communities here?"
I didn't see that, but it's a good one.