By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — The spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of America, one of the largest mosques in the country, announced he is considering resigning.
Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini is considering resigning after serving 18 years at the mosque. He said he has been targeted by letters accusing him of corruption and misdeeds, which he denied.
“They criticized me because I donated money to an orphanage in Iraq,” he said during his speech at the mosque on Jan. 23.
Last year, Qazwini told the Arab American News that he believes the letters were sent by an enemy of Islam and said he has help raise more than $10 million in the last decade for the center.
Qazwini is a known leader and mentor of a variety of groups in the community, and also founded the Young Muslim Association, to help teach and promote the practices and beliefs of Islam.
“I am indeed so honored and overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support I receive from this community,” Qazwini said. “I am honored to serve you.”
Qazwini’s announcement came as a surprise to the community because he had not spoken about the problems with the board members.
“For 18 years I kept my mouth shut,” he said. “ I didn’t say a word.”
During his speech at the mosque, Qazwini acknowledged that board members tried to get rid of him five years ago.
“They had no luck securing the two-thirds majority to remove me because the majority of the board members are good, honest people,” he said.
Qazwini said it is only a small majority of board that is causing issues for him and the rest of the members.
“There are only a few members who are racists, selfish, and allow me to say they have no religion or faith,” he said.
Qazwini told the board 18 years ago that he would stay at the ICA as long as they will allow him to serve with respect, but if the day comes where he couldn’t, he would leave and serve somewhere else. This might be the final straw for him, he said.
“I felt like staying here at the ICA without any change or reform would compromise my dignity,” he said. “I was being humiliated and I am not going to take this anymore.”
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected].)