Is this anything related to terrorism in Kashmir? Imam’s brother is the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba which is banned in US. Or is it just a Immigration Problem?
http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2007/01/19/news/news03.txt
Imam may be forced out of home: Asked to leave mosque grounds while he awaits visa hearing
By LANE LAMBERT
The Patriot Ledger
With his visa status already in question, the spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of New England’s mosque in Sharon may soon be a man without a home.
The directors of the Islamic Center have given the Imam Muhammed Masood and his family notice to leave their residence on the grounds of the Sharon mosque.
Brookline attorney George Garfinkle, representing the board, said last night the Pakistani cleric has been asked to leave ‘‘sometime soon,’’ though not by a specific date.
‘‘The government is leaning on them, and they’re trying to do the right thing legally,’’ Garfinkle said.
It’s unclear where the imam and his family would live while he awaits a visa hearing.
Garfinkle also confirmed that some former Islamic Center board members have been called before a federal grand jury in Boston over the past month in connection with the investigation of Imam Masood’s alleged visa violations.
He did not identify who was called. Board president Rashid Noor of Norton declined comment about the grand jury appearances.
Imam Masood is expected to have a visa hearing within the next few months. He could be deported at that time.
Imam may be forced out of home: Asked to leave mosque grounds while he awaits visa hearing
Garfinkle also confirmed that some former Islamic Center board members have been called before a federal grand jury in Boston over the past month in connection with the investigation of Imam Masood’s alleged visa violations.
He did not identify who was called. Board president Rashid Noor of Norton declined comment about the grand jury appearances.
Imam Masood is expected to have a visa hearing within the next few months. He could be deported at that time.
Hafiz Saeed’s brother in US immigration trouble
WASHINGTON: A controversial imam at a Massachusetts mosque, with his visa status already in question, has been given notice to leave his residence on the grounds of the Sharon mosque, headquarters of the Islamic Centre of New England. Imam Muhammad Masood is the brother of Hafiz Saeed, founder of the Pakistan-based Markaz Dawaatul Irshad and Jammatud Daawa. Attorney George Garfinkle has said that the Pakistani cleric has been asked to leave “sometime soon”, though not by a specific date. “The government is leaning on them, and they’re trying to do the right thing legally,” Garfinkle told the newspaper Patriot Ledger. Garfinkle also confirmed that some former Islamic Centre board members have been called before a federal grand jury in Boston over the past month in connection with the investigation of Imam Masood’s alleged visa violations. He did not identify who was called. Board president Rashid Noor has declined comment about the grand jury appearances. Imam Masood is expected to have a visa hearing within the next few months. He could be deported at that time. Imam Masood, his son, Hassan, and a Chelmsford imam were picked up by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents on November 15 as part of a multi-state sweep of 33 mostly Pakistani immigrants. Most of those in other states were charged with having fraudulent religious-worker visas. Imam Masood has led the Sharon mosque since 1998. He and his family have continued to live on the mosque property since his release on bail, but he hasn’t led prayer services or performed other duties since then.