Religious leader suspends resignation from Michigan mosque

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - One of the country's top Islamic leaders has suspended his resignation from a Detroit-area mosque.

Islamic Center of America Chairman Ron Amen tells The Associated Press Friday that Imam Hassan al-Qazwini will stay for now at the Dearborn mosque. Al-Qazwini said last week he planned to resign but would reconsider if the board dissolved.

Amen says the board isn't dissolving but "regrouping and reducing." He asked al-Qazwini to "stand with the community to defend the center against ... individuals who would destroy it."

Anonymous letters have accused al-Qazwini of moral and ethical misdeeds, which he denies. Hundreds of people have gathered in recent days to support al-Qazwini.

Al-Qazwini has declined requests to speak with reporters. He's of Iraqi descent and comes from a family of prominent American Shiite scholars.