September 18, 2002
Judge May Require Release of Detainee
By THE NEW YORK TIMES

CHICAGO, Sept. 17 — A federal judge ruled today that a Muslim clergyman accused of funneling money to terrorists should be freed in 10 days or have a new hearing open to the news media and the public with a different immigration judge.

The clergyman, Rabih Haddad, a Lebanese citizen living in Ann Arbor, Mich., has been jailed since Dec. 14 at an immigration prison for overstaying his visa.

David Cole, Mr. Haddad's lawyer, said that although the decision by Judge Nancy G. Edmunds of Federal District Court in Detroit affected only one case, it might set a precedent for similar proceedings, begun nationwide after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Mr. Cole argued that his client should have a new immigration judge because the first one had been tainted by the secrecy of the case.