Update on Masood Case/ Family Will Seek Asylum

The Patriot Ledger keeps us up-to-date on the case of Muhammed Masood, former imam at the Islamic Center of New England (ICNE)/ Sharon.  Masood had a deportation hearing before an immigration judge last week:

"As Imam Muhammad Masood’s family awaits a January 2008 return to immigration court, their attorney says they may yet ask for political asylum. 'There are large issues in Pakistan,’' William Joyce of Duxbury said, referring to the religious climate in the imam’s home country. Joyce made his comments during the family’s Thursday hearing before federal Immigration Court Judge Robin Feder".

"Feder continued a deportation hearing for the imam’s wife and five adult children until Jan. 24, while a separate criminal case against Imam Masood, who is charged with visa fraud and related violations, proceeds."

"The government has also ''administratively closed'’ the imam’s non-criminal immigration case until the criminal case is settled. That means the non-criminal charges have not been dropped and could be reopened at any point."

We're no longer hearing about Masood seeking political asylum here, but now the family is going to give it a shot:

"Joyce said that in January he will ask the government to cancel deportation proceedings against the imam’s wife, Rehana Masood, Hassan and their four adult daughters. If those requests are denied, they will ask for asylum on the grounds that it would be dangerous for them to return to Pakistan."

You almost have to admire the chutzpah. Correct me if I'm wrong, but family members have been going back and forth to Pakistan for years.  Masood's brother Hamid (AKA Muhammed Hamid, Hafiz Hamid, Hamid Mehmud, Hamid Mahmud, Hamid Mehmood and Hamid Qureshi) returned to Pakistan with his wife and five children in June 2007.  How could it be too dangerous for Masood's family when it was safe for his brother's family? 

My previous blog entries about Masood and his many relatives can be found here.