Americans for Qatanani

For Immediate Release

Board of Immigration Appeals rejects part of government’s appeal and sends case back to Immigration Judge for further proceedings.

Contact: Aref Assaf, 973-960-2673, Email: allari58@gmail.com

Paterson, NJ: November 6, 2009: The Board of Immigration Appeals issued an opinion in the government’s appeal of the Immigration Judge’s order granting Dr. Qatanani and his family legal permanent residence, rejecting the government’s case in part and sending it back to the Immigration Judge for further proceedings. Imam Qatanani has since 1996 served as the Spiritual Leader of the tri-state’s largest Muslim mosque, the Islamic Center of Passaic County. After a five day trial and the testimony of experts and many witnesses, Judge Riefkohl, in September 2008 dismissed the government’s case as "patently incomplete" and two federal agents’ conflicting testimonies as "not credible."

The government then sought an appeal from the judge’s decision granting the Imam’s (and his three foreign born children) application for adjustment of status. A 12-page written decision was transmitted to the Imam’s lead attorney, Claudia Slovinsky, on October 30, 2009. The opinion denied part of the government’s appeal and remanded the case to the Immigration Judge saying that he did not give sufficient weight to the government’s evidence. “The facts remain the facts and they were thoroughly and extensively explored at trial by all the parties. I am confident that at the end of the day the Immigration Judge’s findings of facts and his conclusions will be sustained and Dr. Qatanani and his family will get the legal permanent residence that they so much deserve,” said Ms. Slovinsky.

The Americans for Qatanani, (A4Q), the grassroots organization that successfully brought the Imam’s case to national and even international attention, will continue to lead the effort in support of the Imam. “The community has taken ownership of the Imam’s case and views its satisfactory conclusion as a defining expression of its religious and civil rights. Our limitless faith in the profound justice of the Imam’s case is matched equally by our unyielding trust in the enduring qualities of our justice system, “ said Aref Assaf, spokesman for A4Q.

We had hoped the Appeal’s decision to be completely in our favor, ending years of agony and uncertainty for the Imam, his family and the entire Muslim community. Notwithstanding, we remain confident of the facts that compelled the immigration judge to render a favorable ruling. We continue to support the Imam, demonstrate the irreplaceable values he has come to represent, and loudly proclaim the Imam’s message of moderation, proactive and participatory citizenship that only furthers the nurturing of America’s ideals, America’s promise and America’s future.

From the beginning, the A4Q has reminded us that the Imam’s immigration hurdles have serious local, national and international implications. Politicians and community leaders with widely divergent political opinions have outspokenly advocated on behalf of the Imam.

We believe it would be difficult to find an immigrant who has done more for his community and for state and federal authorities than our Imam. Steadfastly, Imam Qatanani has advocated tolerance and understanding among all faiths ever since his arrival in 1996. In the dark days after 9/11, Qatanani reached out to members of other faiths and to the FBI and other agencies. His leading work was critical to helping Muslims, law enforcement and the larger community mitigate the uneasiness and the tensions that emerged.

The Imam and his supporters remain confident the truth shall again be affirmed in court. It is a noble goal worth fighting for. "Americans for Qatanani," the grassroots effort organized to support the imam, will do everything possible to keep him among us as our spiritual leader and our guiding light.
The Imam’s legal team continues to be headed by Claudia Slovinsky who may be reached at her New York City’s office number :( 212) 925-0101

Media inquires may be directed to Dr. Aref Assaf, Imam M. Qatanani’s Spokesman and Media Chair of Americans for Qatanani. Background info of the case may be obtained on the web at http://www.qatanani.com/site/
and also at http://www.aafusa.org/story_and_the_fate_of_imam_m.htm

The media is encouraged and welcome to cover A4Q’s important announcement to the community slated for Friday, November 6, 2009 at 1:00 PM. The announcement shall be made during the weekly Friday services at the Islamic Center of Passaic County, 151 Derrom Ave, Paterson, NJ. END.