NEWARK, N.J. — A Muslim cleric
living in New Jersey graphically described on Monday the torture to which he
claims he was subjected in Israeli custody, as he fought to block U.S. efforts
to deport him on grounds he lied on his residency application.
The detention incident is at the heart of the deportation
proceedings against Mohammad Qatanani, a Palestinian who has been the spiritual
leader at the Islamic Center of Passaic County in New Jersey since 1996.
U.S. officials, in rejecting his bid for permanent U.S.
residency, said Qatanani failed to disclose on his green card application a 1993
arrest and conviction in Israel for being a member of the
militant group Hamas.
Qatanani denies the charges, saying he was detained, not
arrested, by the Israelis along with many Palestinians at the time. Qatanani
claims he was not aware of the conviction and claims he was subjected to
physical and mental abuse while in detention. Over the past few weeks, a number
of character witnesses have testified on his behalf, including a rabbi.
In court on Monday, Qatanani recounted his time in Israeli
detention — describing being tied to a small chair with his hands bound, kept in
a freezing cell, and subjected to violence and threats — several of his
supporters in the packed courtroom began quietly weeping.
"Judge, you can not imagine," Qatanani said, his voice
breaking. "They say 'We will kill your family.' They say: 'You know what your
family is doing now? We will go to them, we will burn them.'"
Qatanani paused to compose himself before telling Immigration Judge Alberto J.
Riefkohl, "At that time, you feel that death is better than life."
His lawyers also tried to distance him from his
controversial predecessor at the mosque, Mohammed el-Mezain, who was arrested
and is facing re-trail on charges of funneling money to Palestinian terrorist
groups.
Qatanani testified that he did not get along with el-Mezain
and never shared his vision. On the stand, Qatanani pointed to his commitment to
interfaith dialogue, cooperation with law enforcement, and the integration of
Muslims into mainstream American society.
Riefkohl, who is hearing the case in Newark federal court,
said Monday would probably be the last day of the trial.
The judge said it could take him a month or more to decide
whether Qatanani, his wife, and three of the couple's six children who are
foreign-born can remain in the United States.
Qatanani said his children were raised here and that he felt
connected to New Jersey after 13 years working in the state.
When asked by his lawyer why he was trying to stay in
America, Qatanani said he loved the people.
"This country has a very beautiful people, a very beautiful
society," he said. "I [have seen] people supporting me — rabbis, officials, the
fruits of working for 13 years is seen in this moment; everybody together
saying, 'We want to continue this journey'."
