The Persecution of My Friend: Imam Dr. Mohammad Qatanani

ON Thursday (May 8), Friday (May 9), and Monday (May 12), a special initiative is going to be held at a federal courthouse in New Jersey for a very special brother in Islam and leader in the New Jersey faith community – Imam Dr. Mohammad Qatanani. I am scheduled to be in Chicago for speaking engagements during this period, but a part of me will be with my friend, his family, and the community he leads. 

Imam Qatanani, a religious scholar and soft-spoken native of Occupied Palestine, came to the United States with his wife and three young children in 1996, with the hope of realizing the American dream.  Over the years the Qatananis were blessed with three more American born children, as they laid family and community roots in the city of Paterson , New Jersey .

Now, in the words of his many supporters, “After nearly 13 years as an extraordinary voice of tolerance and compassion serving the wider community in Northern New Jersey, Imam Dr. Mohamad Qatanani, the spiritual leader of the largest Islamic Center in New Jersey – the Islamic Center of Passaic County (ICPC), faces the unjust prospect of deportation from the land of liberty and justice for all, the land that he and his family have grown to love.”  

How the persecution began       

In July of 2006, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services denied the family’s adjustment of status application and the Imam and his family were put into removal proceedings. The basis for the denial was a detention of the Imam in 1993, by Israeli authorities, when he journeyed from his home in Jordan to visit his family in the West Bank . Mass detention for Palestinians was (and still is) a common practice.

On his immigration application the Imam and his attorneys answered “No” when asked if he was ever arrested.  Imam Qatanani and his experienced attorneys believed that he was “detained” and not “arrested,” because he was never charged with any crime, never faced a civilian or military judge, and ultimately was unconditionally released after 3 months without any word of why he was detained in the first place. 

It should also be noted that the Imam responded in a legally justified manner to the issue of arrest or detention, and that he has been forthright with government officials during interviews and discussions regarding his period of detention. Primarily based on this innocuous episode that occurred over thirteen years ago, the application for permanent residency for the Imam, his wife and his three oldest children has been placed in limbo.  This uncertain status has caused a measure of anxiety and untold hardships for the family.

Case in point: the driving privileges of both the Imam and his wife, Somaia, were revoked for the past three years. Sr. Somaia, a school teacher, has faced the daily quandary of not being able to drive herself and her children to school.  On at least two occasions during this period, the family has been faced with the scary situation of children falling ill late at night, and with no access to transportation, having to suffer the indignity of literally walking to the nearest hospital in the darkness of the night.

Imam Qatanani’s contribution to the community

Imam Mohammad Qatanani’s inspired leadership is credited with the following:

1. Youth programs, weekend school classes, nightly community gatherings, summer picnics, and an assortment of other community festivities which unite the community with the message of hope and peace.

2. Annual voter registration drives.
3. In-house round table discussions with political leaders including several Governors, US Senators, Congressman, State Senate and Assembly Representatives,  Mayors and Municipal Council Officials.
4. Human relief efforts comprised of food and fund drives for the victims of  9/11, the 2004 Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.
5. Local Health fairs and blood drives.
6. Diversified congregation with comprehensive interpretation and translation services.
7. Programs that strengthen familial bonds and increase families’ engagement with the community.

8. Extensive work in the area of interfaith dialogue and cooperation.

It was these strong relationships within the community-at-large that enabled diverse communities – in the northern New Jersey area - to comfort each other after the tragic attacks of September 11. The Imam was one of the first Muslim leaders to condemn the attacks, specifically, and all violence against humanity in general. The Imam’s community welcomed FBI officials to ICPC to open channels of communication, tolerance and security. These efforts were recognized state-wide when he was called upon to open the NJ State Senate with a recitation and prayer for peace and humanity.

What others have said about Imam Qatanani

“Fostering dialogue, understanding and trust between Muslims, Christians and Jews is critical for our nation and the world. In this cause here in New Jersey , Dr. Mohammad Qatanani, the Imam of the Islamic Center of Passaic County , has been a tireless champion. Now our federal government is seeking to deport him along with his wife and six children. With the billions our government spends now on homeland security, how could they get it so wrong?” – Rev. Bill Potter, Priest of St. Like Episcopalian Church ( Hope , NJ )

“Imam Qatanani is an asset to our society and culture, as he models and preaches values consistent with the American ideal.” – Rabbi David Senter, Congregation Beth Shalom ( Pompton Lakes )

“I’ve seen with my own eyes a gentleman who’s had a tremendous positive influence in the community… He’s done nothing but good since he’s been in the U.S., and many of us are ready to stand up and go to court to testify about him if need be.” – U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell (Congressman for NJ)

Some closing thoughts

I have had the pleasure of knowing Imam Qatanani for several years now, and I value him as one of my dearest friends. We were first introduced at a large Palestine-related demonstration in New York City . The delegation from ICPC was impressed with what I had to say about the never ending Middle East crisis, and I was invited to visit the center and share some thoughts with the community.

I’ll never forget my first impression of ICPC. When I saw how large and organized the community was, I kidded my brothers and sisters at the center with the following words: If I were a betting man, I would wager all I had that this center is under intense surveillance.

About a month later I visited the center again, on my way to New York for a jumah (Friday prayer service). On that visit I passed out printed information on some issue that my organization was working on at the time. A few days later I received a visit at my home from the FBI. Before the visit with my guests ended, I asked them how it was that I came to their attention. Their response was that I had visited “the mosque in Patterson , NJ .” Upon hearing this I just shook my head and smiled. (My instincts were correct.)

Truth be told, the Islamic Center of Passaic County has been under uninterrupted surveillance, and the Qatanani family (among others) have been trapped in an immigration quagmire, for one reason and one reason only – the State of Israel and the so-called “war on terrorism.”  (A twin monstrosity joined at the hip.)

When leaders like Rev. Bill Potter reference the billions of dollars going into “homeland security,” and then raise the question of “how could they get it so wrong?” – the truth is, the powers-that-be know exactly what they are doing! The government’s persecution of the Qatananis is nothing more than deliberate policy designed to frighten, silence, and destabilize the Muslim community (esp. Palestinians) and their leadership!

In our latest book, The Palestinians’ Holocaust: American Perspectives (pg 72), we cite an April 1, 2007 address that Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered before the Israeli Knesset. In her speech she noted, “Israeli expertise and technology are helping protect cities and airports across America.”

Our special relationship with Israel, and the impact that this relationship has had on domestic and foreign policy, is at the very heart of so many cases that have shaken the very foundations of American democracy.

While the government makes the argument that the “war on terrorism” is not a war against Islam and Muslims, a myriad of cases and issues – i.e. Dr. Sami Al-Arian, Mohammad Salah and Dr. Abdelhaleem Ashqar, the Holy Land Foundation, etc., immigration cases like that Imam Dr. Mohammad Qatanani, and oppressive U.S. foreign policy overseas –  prove otherwise (for the average Muslim in the street)!

I pray that people of good will (both Muslim and non-Muslim) in the New Jersey - New York area, who are in a position to do so, will support the upcoming May 8-12^th initiatives, and become permanently active in the campaign for justice for Imam Dr. Mohammad Qatanani and his family. The community as a whole will benefit from such an effort!

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Rally to Support Imam Qatanani at The Federal Court House for His Immigration Hearing On May 8th, 9th and 12th! 

-Free buses will be leaving from ICPC at 8 am. For other locations, please consult with your local mosque to see if they will provide busing.

-The address is 970 Broad Street , Newark , NJ . (Few minutes walking from Newark Penn Station.)

-Friday prayer will be held at the rally. Guest speaker: Imam Siraj Wahhaj

-Wear your A4Q white t-shirts or purchase them on site.

   Thursday, May 8th: Rally until 1 pm

   Friday, May 9th: Rally all day- Jummah (Friday) prayer will be on site

   Monday, May 12th: Rally until 1 pm