Muslims decry U.S. ouster of Tempe doctor

[Judi Lynn]

Muslims decry U.S. ouster of Tempe doctor

Dennis Wagner
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 28, 2006 12:00 AM

Representatives from leading Islamic organizations in Arizona and the nation blasted the Department of Homeland Security on Friday, alleging that the government used discrimination, dishonesty and smear tactics to force a prominent Muslim physician out of the country.

The organizations, including the Council on American Islamic Relations and Muslim American Society, demanded that federal authorities allow Dr. Nadeem Hassan to return to Tempe from Pakistan and said that they are seeking meetings with the FBI, Homeland Security and congressional leaders about the treatment of immigrants.

Hassan, a Pakistani who belongs to an Islamic group known as Jamaat al Tabligh, was forced out of the country last week under threat of indefinite detention based in part on a Homeland Security finding that JT is a terrorist organization. advertisement

Those moves infuriated Valley Muslims, who say Hassan is a peace-loving physician and Jamaat al Tabligh is a non-violent, apolitical missionary movement.

"We have no problem with fighting terrorism. We're partners in that," said Deedra Abboud, executive director for the Muslim American Society. "But we demand that the FBI and Department of Homeland Security meet with us. . . . We want them to reverse their decision."
(snip/...)

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0128hassan0128.html

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Ariz. senator’s son arrested in Prescott camp hazing
By Mike Branom, Tribune
January 24, 2006
The son of a top Arizona politician was one of two teenagers arrested Monday on accusations they used a broom handle to haze 18 boys at a youth leadership camp in Prescott last summer.

Clif Bennett, 18, of Prescott — son of Senate President Ken Bennett, R-Prescott — and Kyle Wheeler, 19, of Glendale were charged by the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office with 18 counts of aggravated assault and kidnapping.

The investigation began last month when a boy reported to authorities he had been held down and assaulted with a broom handle while attending the camp June 12-17.

Because the boys were clothed, no charges of a sexual nature were filed, Prescott police Lt. Pete Hodap said.
(snip/...)

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=57674

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

1. This sure sounds like an injustice being done. I hope it gets

investigated and corrected.

Another excerpt:

"...In revoking Hassan's green card, CIS said he committed fraud by failing to declare his leadership in a number of Muslim groups, including JT and a mosque in Mesa. Bjotvedt said that the application form asks about membership in "every political organization, association, fund, (etc.)," and that Hassan didn't understand religious affiliations were required.

Bjotvedt complained that CIS misrepresented an FBI affidavit that says Jamaat al Tabligh is "vulnerable to being used by Islamic extremists." That declaration concludes that the bureau "is unable to rule out the possibility that Hassan poses a threat."

CIS went much further, finding that JT "is a terrorist organization" and that Hassan "engaged in terrorist activity" by working with it. Jamaat al Tabligh is not on the State Department's list ..."

(Hassan's immigration attorney in Phoenix is Eric Bjotvedt)

[izzie]

3. You can not think it will stop when 911 is going in to top gear.

My God any moral man would have stopped what they did to McCain in SC and he was in their own party.

[izzie]

2. It may mean Yale is out for these two boys.

Right Wing leadership on a roll. Must be a treeless landscape.

[Zhade]

4. Shameful!

K/R!