Dearborn mosque leader threatens resignation over board rift

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - One of the country's top Islamic leaders threatened to resign from his position at a Detroit-area mosque if its board of trustees is not removed.

Imam Hassan al-Qazwini told members of the Islamic Center of America - considered the most influential Shiite mosque in the country - that he wanted to resign on Friday, but he later said he'd reconsider if the board dissolves, the Detroit Free Press reported on Saturday (http://on.freep.com/18buDe9 ).

The Islamic Center of America is in Dearborn, just outside Detroit, and is one of the largest mosques in America. Al-Qazwini arrived in 1997.

Anonymous letters to members have accused al-Qazwini of using donations from mosque members for projects run by his father in Iraq and also of having an extramarital relationship. Critics want the funds used to retire the mosque's debt and for projects in Lebanon and other countries, according to the Free Press.

Al-Qazwini denies the allegations and says the rift is with board members of Lebanese descent. He is from a family of prominent American Shiite scholars and of Iraqi descent.

"The entire board has to be dissolved, with the exception of the founding fathers," he said in a recording of Friday afternoon's sermon. "The entire system has to be dissolved. The bylaws have to be dissolved."

He told members at a separate gathering Friday night that he would leave if they didn't "get rid of the rotten apples." The Islamic Center's executive administrator Kassem Allie wouldn't confirm al-Qazwini's plans to resign.

Backers shouted their support for al-Qazwini during Friday night's meeting.

"You are irreplaceable. You did not deserve this treatment," Dan Makled told al-Qazwini and mosque members from the podium.

Al-Qazwini has spoken with past U.S. presidents, including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, and with Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign.

___

Information from: Detroit Free Press, http://www.freep.com