NEWARK (AP) — A Muslim cleric living in New Jersey graphically described on Monday the torture to which he claims he was subjected in Israeli custody. The description came during the final day of testimony as he fought to block efforts by the United States to deport him on grounds that he lied on his residency application.
The detention is at the heart of the deportation proceedings against the cleric, Mohammad Qatanani, a Palestinian who has been the spiritual leader at the Islamic Center of Passaic County in New Jersey since 1996.
United States officials, in rejecting his bid for permanent residency, said that Mr. 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.
Mr. Qatanani denies the charges, saying he and many other Palestinians were detained, not arrested, by the Israelis at the time. He claims that he was not aware of the conviction and that 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 and several high-ranking New Jersey law enforcement officials.
Lawyers for both sides have until July 31 to submit written summations, and Immigration Judge Alberto J. Riefkohl, who is presiding over the case in Federal District Court in Newark, said he would render a decision in mid-September.
In court on Monday, Mr. 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 starvation, violence and threats. Several of his supporters in the packed courtroom began quietly weeping as he spoke.
“Judge, you cannot imagine,” Mr. 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.’”
Mr. Qatanani paused to compose himself before telling Judge Riefkohl, “At that time, you feel that death is better than life.”
During cross-examination, lawyers for the Department of Homeland Security — which oversees immigration proceedings — sought to link Mr. Qatanani to terrorist-affiliated groups and individuals.
Alan Wolf, a lawyer for Homeland Security, questioned Mr. Qatanani about his brother-in-law, Mahmoud Abu Hanoud, who was a senior Hamas military leader killed by the Israelis.
Mr. Qatanani said that Mr. Abu Hanoud was his wife’s brother, so he knew him but did not participate with him in political activities. Mr. Wolf also pressed Mr. Qatanani about his ties with the former imam of the Paterson, N.J., mosque, Mohammed el-Mezain, who was arrested and is currently facing retrial on charges of funneling money to Palestinian terrorist groups.
Mr. Qatanani said he had never gotten along with Mr. Mezain and was unaware of his activities. He said their differing visions for the mosque led to frequent disagreements that nearly prompted him to resign.
Mr. Wolf also cited excerpts of sermons Mr. Qatanani had given calling Israelis “transgressors,” and questioned whether Mr. Qatanani or the mosque had donated money to various Islamic organizations.
Mr. Qatanani’s lawyer, Claudia Slovinsky, objected several times to the line of questioning, at one point yelling out, “Your Honor, this is slanderous. It is guilt by association.”
Monday was the fourth and final day of the trial. On the stand, Mr. Qatanani pointed to his commitment to interfaith dialogue, cooperation with law enforcement and the integration of Muslims into mainstream American society.
The streets outside the courthouse were packed with Mr. Qatanani’s supporters, many of whom carried signs calling him a man of peace.
A group of Orthodox Jews stood amid the mostly Muslim crowd, saying they were there to show solidarity with Mr. Qatanani, who they said had championed their effort to get a kosher slaughterhouse in Paterson.
