Trial
Character witnesses testifying for Qatanani included Roman Catholic and Episcopalian priests along with two county sheriffs who praised Qatanani for helping investigators become acquainted with cultural aspects of the Muslim community. On September 4, 2008, a U.S. Immigration Judge declined to deport and granted Mohammad Qatanani and his family permanent residency.
The Judge noted that the records obtained by Homeland Security officials from the Israelis were “too unreliable to prove that Mr. Qatanani has engaged in terrorist activities.”
The lead government attorney drew criticism for reading passages from the Quran that indicated that God will cause unbelievers to “increase in illness." An attorney for the American Jewish Congress questioned the relevance of referring to Quranic passages in Qatanani's trial, explaining that the passages "showed no inclination towards violence" on Qatanani's part.
Rabbi Senter of Pompton Lakes, one of Qatanani's character witness who noted that Qatanani was “the most moderate individual you could imagine” was "shocked" to see the government attorney "use the tactics of hatemongers in an effort to tip the scales of justice."
Read more about this topic: Mohammad Qatanani
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