By SARAH SCHILLACI, HERALD NEWS | 03/02/08 02:11 AM
PATERSON -- "He is a man of his own class."
Standing behind the counter of his Main Street jewelry store, Awni Abu-Habda tried to describe Mohammad Qatanani, the imam of the Islamic Center of Passaic County.
"A man who united this community. Who believes this God should be worshipped," said Abu-Habda, a deputy mayor in Paterson. "We pray that he stays."
On Friday, U.S. immigration officials decreed that they would not grant the 44-year-old Qatanani, a Palestinian, permanent resident status because he did not reveal a 1993 conviction in Israel for allegedly assisting Hamas when applying for a green card in 1996. Qatanani spent three months in an Israeli prison, during which he says that he was never informed of the charges against him.
If Qatanani's new application for legal residency is denied, Qatanani, his wife and three of his six children all face deportation in May, after an immigration court trial. Three other children were born in the United States.
Muslims in South Paterson reeled from the news on Saturday.
"He's the best guy," said Millie Alvarez, 30, who was shopping for clothes on Main Street. "The whole community is worried."
Alvarez attends Qatanani's mosque, and said that her fellow congregants are already trying to raise money to pay Qatanani's legal fees.
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Dr Qatanani is the Imam of my Local Masjid any duas or help you can give will be appreciated insha'Allah