U.S. Deports Imam For Hiding Terrorist Ties

January 5, 2007 -- The United States has deported a Muslim religious leader who was convicted of lying to conceal his involvement with a Palestinian group Washington views as a terrorist organization.

U.S. immigration officials say Fawaz Damra was convicted of concealing his ties to Palestinian Islamic Jihad after he applied for U.S. citizenship more than a decade ago.

Damra, 46, had served as imam at a leading mosque in Cleveland, Ohio.

He was flown to Amman, Jordan, from where he then crossed over to the West Bank.

(AP)