Mohamed "Abo Ras" - Investigation Report

Facing Abuse in Community Environments In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

FACE INVESTIGATION REPORT Report Classification:​ PUBLIC Subject of Investigation: ​Mohamed Ali Mohamed Egeesa “Abo Ras” Current Employer:​ Windsor Qur’an Academy Former Employers:​ An-Noor Private School and Al-Hijra Mosque/Al-Hijra Academy Primary Location:​ Windsor, Ontario, Canada Violations:​ Clergy Misconduct, Marriage Fraud, ​Takhbib​, Blackmail, Workplace Misconduct Investigation Time Frame:​ September 2019 - October 2020 Publish Date:​ October 29, 2020 Report Compilation Investigator:​ Alia Salem - Founder & Executive Director Report Author:​ Sara Bawany, LMSW, CCM - Staff Member Review & Edits Marwa Elbially, Esq. - Board Chair Ramon Mejía - Board Secretary Antonio Glenn, Esq. - Board Member Waheeda Saif, LMHC - Board Member Saud Inam - Board Member Abida Minhas, LPC-S - Board Member Muhammad Ali - FACE Advisor

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TABLE OF CONTENTS RELEVANT BACKGROUND AND ALLEGATIONS

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INVESTIGATION SCOPE AND PROCESS

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FINDINGS Primary Findings and Detailed Evidentiary Support Secondary Findings and Detailed Evidentiary Support

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INVESTIGATION NARRATIVE DETAIL

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SUBJECT RESPONSE

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TIMELINE OF EVENTS

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RECOMMENDATIONS

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CONCLUSION

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I.

RELEVANT BACKGROUND AND ALLEGATIONS

This investigation relates to allegations made against Mohamed Ali Mohamed Egeesa, also known in his local community as “Sheikh Abo Ras,” hereinafter known as “Subject.” Subject, who is legally married with five children, moved to Windsor, Ontario from Libya in July 2012. He began working as an assistant imam and Tahfeeth1 teacher at Al-Hijra Mosque in September 2012. On September 17, 2017, Subject received a ​final warning letter​ from the Al-Hijra Mosque administration due to multiple recurring complaints of workplace misconduct reported against him. Subsequently, on September 29, 2017, Subject ​resigned​ from his employment at Al-Hijra Mosque.

In October 2017, Subject began working at An-Noor Private School, initially serving in a supportive capacity as a religious leader and later as a ​Tahfeeth​ teacher. Subject also led ​Taraweeh​ prayers during Ramadan in a facility he had rented in May - June 2019. In August 2020, An-Noor Private School ​announced​ Subject’s resignation and Subject co-founded Windsor Qur’an Academy, which operates on the An-Noor campus.

On September 10, 2019, FACE received a written and verbal allegation from a community member in Windsor, Ontario, hereinafter known as “Reporter.” Reporter alleged that two women in the Windsor community had disclosed information regarding abusive conduct and ethical violations committed by Subject.

Between September 2012 - February 2018, Subject was alleged to have committed the following: 1. Allegation #1:​ Subject abused his position of power by pursuing his female subordinates, his adult female students, his students’ mothers, and teachers in his congregation for concealed marriages or extramarital relationships2. In at least one instance, he was alleged to have encouraged one to divorce her husband in order to pursue her.

Following receipt of the above allegation, FACE initiated an investigation of Subject. During the investigation, FACE uncovered additional allegations, detailed as follows: 2. Allegation #2: ​Subject paid between $700-$800 to retrieve private photos of the victims that he had previously deleted from his phone, and threatened to release them if the victims continued to pursue the above allegations.

3. Allegation #3:​ Subject exhibited unprofessional and unethical behavior at his workplace by appointing his own assistants, one of whom he pursued for a concealed marriage, as well as leaving minor children unsupervised in classrooms and committing repeated attendance violations.

II.

INVESTIGATION SCOPE AND PROCESS

The scope of FACE’s investigation includes events that occurred between September 2012 - February 2018, the duration of the alleged misconduct. Additional details regarding key facts of the investigation, procedures performed, and any limitations, are as follows: Dates of Investigation: a. 09/10/2019 - 10/29/2020

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​Tahfeeth teacher​ - one who teaches the memorization of the the Holy Qur'an

​To read more about the ​power differential​ between clergy and congregants and how meaningful consent does not apply in these scenarios, click ​here​.

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03/05/2020 - 03/08/2020: FACE traveled to Windsor, Ontario for in-person interviews of relevant individuals at local Islamic institutions, masaajid, businesses, and private residences.

Evidentiary Support: a. Document Review (see documents in hyperlinks): i.

The Imams’ Council of Windsor (ICW)’s official ​statement​ regarding their findings and recommendations ii.

Nikkah3 document of concealed marriage between Subject and Victim 1 iii.

Anonymous undated letter​ sent out to Windsor community leaders iv.

Official institutional correspondence including a ​final warning letter​ from Al-Hijra, Subject’s ​resignation letter​, and a resignation ​announcement​ by An-Noor Private School. b. Multimedia Review: 4 i.

Audio recordings , video interviews, and statements ii.

Call logs between Subject and a victim iii.

Social media posts iv.

Email communications Interviews: FACE​ ​conducted ​32​ interviews, including that of Reporter, victims’ family members, local religious and community leaders, and community members.

Key Limitations: Primary victims refused to speak to FACE investigators. Other sources were reluctant to share detailed information or evidence to support the reported allegations. The victims and sources expressed fear of litigation, blackmail, community mistrust, social ostracization, and a sincere belief that it was religiously impermissible to discuss the misconduct.

III.

FINDINGS

Primary Findings and Detailed Evidentiary Support 1. Allegation #1:​ The allegation that Subject abused his position of power and trust by pursuing his female subordinates, his adult female students, his students’ mothers, and teachers in his congregation for concealed marriages or extramarital relationships, encouraging one to divorce her husband in order to pursue her, is ​SUBSTANTIATED​. a. Violations Incurred: ● Clergy Misconduct5 ● Marriage Fraud6 ● Takhbib7 3 4

​Nikkah​ - an Islamic marriage

​All audio and video recordings provided or obtained were done so lawfully in accordance with Canada’s recording laws.

​Clergy Misconduct ©​ - a broad term that encompasses violations by clergy persons or religious leaders who actively transgress the ethical boundaries of their position. For example, using their power to make sexual advances or exploitative propositions, seeking personal or special favors from persons in the congregations they serve, or violating their office for other personal benefit.

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​Marriage Fraud​ ​© ​- a broad term to encompass all forms of marriage that are conducted and/or entered into under a fraudulent or misleading pretense. It often occurs without valid contracts or the required Islamic stipulations, by misrepresenting one’s true identity and circumstances, falsifying documents, and is often conducted in a deliberately secretive manner including obscuring its existence from existing spouses and the wider community.

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​Takhbib​ ​© -​ an Arabic term that refers to the act of convincing, incentivizing, pressuring, manipulating, or persuading a person to divorce their spouse with an ulterior motive and/or malice that is usually personally beneficial to the one doing the convincing. It is often brought up in the context of someone who convinces a person to divorce their spouse so that they may pursue that person for marriage for themself or another person. Islam forbids one’s action that destroys the relationship of a wife with her husband. It is narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “​If anyone corrupts (instigates) the wife of a man . . . (against him), he is not from us.”​ (Sunan Abi Dawud 5170). Some fatwas and information can be found ​here​, ​here​ and ​here​.

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b. Evidentiary Support: ● Evidentiary support #1​ includes​ ​a ​statement​ prepared by the Imams’ Council of Windsor who met with both Subject and the victims in person. FACE collected this evidence on March 5, 2020 as a certified hard copy of the original document. ● Evidentiary support #2​ includes an audio recording8 of a victim confirming the existence of the extramarital relationship. FACE reviewed this piece of evidence on March 6, 2020, verified the authenticity of the recording, and confirmed the identity of the voice on the recording as one of the victims. ● Evidentiary support #3 ​includes call logs between Subject and a victim over a period of several months. FACE verified the phone numbers listed in the call logs as belonging to one of the victims and to Subject. FACE collected a certified copy of the call logs on March 8, 2020. ● Evidentiary support #4 ​includes a ​nikkah​ document between Subject and Victim 1.

FACE collected this evidence on March 8, 2020 as a certified hard copy of the original document. ● Evidentiary support #5​ includes recorded statements of multiple community leaders as well as friends and family members of victims who heard their testimonies firsthand; these individuals directly corroborated the concealment of the marriages.

Secondary Findings and Detailed Evidentiary Support 2. Allegation #2:​ The allegation that Subject paid between $700-$800 to retrieve private photos of the victims that he had previously deleted from his phone, and threatened to release them if the victims continued to pursue the above allegations, is ​SUBSTANTIATED. a. Violations Incurred: ● Blackmail9 b. Evidentiary Support: ● Evidentiary support #1​ includes an audio recording that contained verbal communication between Reporter and a victim, detailing the threats made by Subject and expressing her fear of what Subject would do if allegations against him continued to be pursued. FACE reviewed this piece of evidence on March 6, 2020, verified the authenticity of the recording, and confirmed the identity of the voice on the recording as one of the victims. ● Evidentiary support #2​ includes the interviews of two community members who gave independent statements to FACE that they directly heard Subject threaten to blackmail the victims, as well as interviews with two other sources who the above individuals told about Subject’s threat.

3. Allegation #3:​ The allegation that Subject exhibited unprofessional and unethical behavior at his workplace by appointing his own assistants, leaving minor children unsupervised in classrooms, and committing repeated attendance violations, is ​SUBSTANTIATED​.

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​As part of our victim-centered approach, FACE does not release any evidentiary support that would risk the exposure of the victims’ identities.

​Blackmail​ - to ​demand money or another benefit from (someone) in return for not revealing compromising or damaging information about them.

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a. Violations Incurred: ● Workplace Misconduct10 b. Evidentiary Support: ● Evidentiary support #1​ includes the ​final warning letter​ sent to Subject by the Al-Hijra board. FACE collected this evidence on June 11, 2020 as a certified copy of the original document. ● Evidentiary support #2 ​includes five independent statements made about Subject’s workplace misconduct.

IV. INVESTIGATION NARRATIVE DETAIL It was reported to FACE and corroborated independently by four first-hand witnesses, that in February 2018, Windsor community leaders were called to an urgent meeting by Reporter. Reporter alleged abusive misconduct by Subject towards two women, hereinafter known as Victim 1 and Victim 2, who provided detailed formal statements at that meeting. The leaders present were also aware that five months prior, Subject had received a ​final warning letter​ of documented misconduct from his employers at Al-Hijra Mosque, after which Subject submitted his ​resignation letter​ and began employment at An-Noor Private School.

Victim 1, who was working as Subject’s teaching assistant at Al-Hijra in approximately 2012 - 2013, and was divorced from her first husband at the time, stated at that meeting that she was persuaded by Subject into a romantic relationship, absent intercourse. During Victim 1’s employment, the Al-Hijra administration learned of the relationship and confronted Victim 1 and Subject. Subject swore on the Qur’an to deny his involvement, absolving himself of all responsibility, and thus retaining his employment. Victim 1 admitted to the relationship and was then fired from Al-Hijra. Victim 1 also stated that she later reconciled with her first husband and remarried him, but Subject subsequently convinced her to divorce him again and then persuaded her into a concealed marriage, violating the Islamic principle of the prohibition of ​takhbib​.

After the meeting, Victim 1 submitted the signed ​nikkah​ document as evidence, which was officiated by an imam in Gatineau, Quebec, a city approximately 764 kilometers/475 miles away from Windsor, Ontario.

Despite the appearance of an Islamically valid contract, there was no public acknowledgement of this marriage among the Windsor Muslim community. This lack of knowledge persisted until Subject divorced Victim 1 in February 2018, at which point Reporter contacted the community leaders for the meeting.

The second woman at this meeting, Victim 2, a former teacher at Al-Hijra and parent of Subject’s students, alleged that Subject had persuaded her into an extramarital relationship, absent intercourse, despite her being a married woman; further, this coercive relationship transpired throughout 2017 and part of 2018 while Subject was already in a concealed marriage with Victim 1.

Upon hearing the victims’ statements, receiving the ​anonymous undated letter​, and later learning of a concealed marriage to another former teaching assistant, hereinafter known as Victim 3, the community leaders delegated the matter to the Imams’ Council of Windsor, hereinafter known as “the ICW,” who contacted An-Noor’s leadership to meet about their concerns regarding Subject’s employment. After learning of the allegations, An-Noor initially dismissed Subject temporarily from his teaching and prayer-leading

​Workplace Misconduct​ ​© -​ engaging in a neglectful oversight of one’s ethical and workplace duties, whether intentionally or purposefully, which disrupts the flow of the workday, violates the workplace codes of conduct, and in extreme cases, includes harassing, abusing or directly causing harm to subordinates, supervisees, or employees.

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duties, but reinstated him shortly thereafter. An-Noor’s leadership allegedly refused to meet in person to discuss the ICW’s concerns.

In December 2018, the ICW, with supporting evidence and firsthand accounts at their disposal, drafted a formal ​statement​ detailing their findings, but refrained from sending it to the An-Noor leadership, hoping to share it in person. In the ​statement​, the ICW declared: “Based on the above facts, the council, unanimously, found that Mr. Mohamed Aboras is NOT trusted by all means to hold his positions either as an Imam, a member of the imams’ council or a teacher. Due to the violation of the Islamic code of conduct, lack of responsibility, misuse of power, and causing harm to those women and community at large, he has set the worst example to our youth. This irresponsible behaviour can create mistrust in the Imam’s profession within the community.”

After a continued lack of response from An-Noor, the statement was distributed to representatives from An-Noor Private School, Windsor Islamic Association, and Windsor Islamic Council in the summer of 2019.

This was also after the ICW learned that Subject was teaching a Qur’an class for women at An-Noor and after Subject rented out his own facility during Ramadan to lead ​Taraweeh​ prayers, as he was not allowed to lead prayers in any of Windsor’s masaajid.

Meanwhile, an ​anonymous undated letter​ was also mailed to several community leaders, the writer evidently having intimate knowledge of Subject’s misconduct and urging the leaders to prevent Subject from maintaining his leadership positions. The writer has not been identified to this day.

The Windsor Islamic Council, an umbrella organization of all the Islamic institutions in Windsor, convened a formal meeting on November 7, 2019 with 15 community leaders and stakeholders including the ICW and An-Noor’s leadership. According to attendees present, this meeting resulted in a written document that included stipulations for corrective action. However, while community leaders in possession of this document have acknowledged its existence, they have refused to discuss its contents or share a copy with FACE, stating that they believe doing so would violate confidentiality rules in place. As a result, FACE is unable to determine what the stipulations were and if any were implemented or enforced.

What is known is that Subject continued his employment at An-Noor for another nine months. An-Noor allegedly agreed after the November 2019 meeting that while they would not fire Subject, they would not be renewing his contract for the 2020-2021 school year. However, An-Noor did not appear to make any efforts to turn over the position or mitigate the potential for harm, but instead ​announced​ on August 5, 2020 that Subject had voluntarily resigned, despite their “efforts to retain him.” Subject co-founded his own school called Windsor Qur’an Academy which launched in September 2020, and would be serving as the ​Tahfeeth teacher there for the 2020-2021 school year. In October 2020, An-Noor began permitting Subject to use their space to conduct Windsor Qur’an Academy’s operations on their campus.

V.

SUBJECT RESPONSE

On October 28, 2020, FACE attempted to contact Subject via phone, text, and email. Subject failed to respond to all attempted communications prior to the publication of this report.

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VI. TIMELINE OF EVENTS Date Sept 2012 Estimated 2013 Estimated 2015 Estimated 2016 Spring 2017 Aug 8, 2017 Sept 17, 2017 Sept 29, 2017 Oct 2017 Feb 2018 Feb 2018 Dec 2018

May 2019 Summer 2019

Summer 2019

Sept 10, 2019 Nov 7, 2019

Jan 2020 March 5-8, 2020 May 13-15, 2020 Aug 5, 2020 Aug 17-24, 2020 Oct 28, 2020

Description Subject begins work at Al-Hijra Mosque & Academy.

Victim 1, who was divorced from her first husband at the time, is fired from Al-Hijra after discovery of a relationship between her and Subject.

Subject informally hires Victim 3 as an unpaid teaching assistant.

Subject enters concealed marriage with Victim 3.

Subject and Victim 3 end their concealed marriage after her discovery that Subject was pursuing Victim 1 again, this time for a concealed marriage.

Subject enters concealed ​marriage​ with Victim 1 in Gatineau, Quebec.

Subject receives a ​final warning letter​ from Al-Hijra for workplace misconduct.

Subject ​resigns​ from Al-Hijra Mosque and begins employment at An-Noor Private School.

While still in a concealed marriage with Subject, Victim 1 discovers that Subject has also persuaded Victim 2 into a romantic relationship.

Subject ends concealed marriage by divorcing Victim 1.

Reporter calls for an urgent meeting with community leaders, Victim 1 and Victim 2.

A formal ​statement​ by the Imams’ Council of Windsor (the ICW) detailing Subject’s transgressions, is prepared with the intent to present it at a meeting to An-Noor School’s leadership, who have refused to meet in person thus far.

Subject rents a facility in Ramadan to lead ​Taraweeh​ because he isn’t allowed to lead prayers in the local Windsor masaajid.

Copies of the ICW ​statement​ are distributed to community leaders of An-Noor Private School, Windsor Islamic Association, and Windsor Islamic Council after the ICW’s discovery that Subject had been permitted to teach summer Qur’an classes for women.

An ​anonymous undated letter​ is mailed out to various community leaders, detailing Subject’s transgressions ​and urging the leaders to prevent Subject from maintaining his leadership positions​.

Reporter files a formal allegation with FACE. Approximately 15 people attend a meeting of Windsor leaders, including the ICW and An-Noor Private School’s leadership, to discuss Subject’s misconduct and disciplinary actions, resulting in a written document with stipulations for corrective action. A private meeting between Subject and An-Noor’s leadership was held afterwards but the contents and conclusions of that meeting are unknown.

Windsor community leaders independently contact FACE, requesting assistance in addressing the same allegations submitted by Reporter four months earlier.

FACE conducts in-person investigation interviews in Windsor.

FACE conducts a second set of interviews via phone.

An-Noor Private School ​announces​ Subject’s resignation and Subject launches Windsor Qur’an Academy shortly thereafter.

FACE conducts a third set of interviews via phone.

FACE attempts to contact Subject.

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VII. RECOMMENDATIONS FACE recommends the following for the relevant communities: ● Subject should not be employed in any facility as a religious or community leader, nor should he obtain employment where he would have access to women or vulnerable individuals. ● The An-Noor leadership should: ○ remove the operations of Windsor Qur’an Academy from their facility permanently. ○ be aware that they may be subject to liability if a victim escalates Subject’s abuse to legal authorities, or if Subject commits additional transgressions while An-Noor knowingly facilitates his access to vulnerable populations. ○ publicly release the document that was created in the November 2019 meeting in order to be transparent with the community about the outcome of the agreement. ○ remove those responsible from their positions of power and authority for enabling Subject’s misconduct and lack of accountability. ○ release a formal statement of actions taken to rectify their position on this matter. ● The Imams’ Council of Windsor should: ○ endorse the FACE findings in a public written communication disseminated to their community and masaajid across the country, especially affirming their belief that Subject is not fit to hold a leadership position. ○ hold a town hall for the Windsor community to process what has happened. ● For all relevant communities and institutions to implement the following for all teachers, staff, and volunteers, regardless of their degree or certification: ○ a code of conduct, sexual harassment policy, and community bill of rights ○ abuse reporting tool and investigative process ○ a list of mental health resources made publicly available as well as funding for indigent persons to access support ○ mandatory annual training on: ■ sexual harassment and prevention ■ child safety and mandatory reporting ■ abuse prevention in a faith-based environment

VIII. CONCLUSION Subject’s repetitive violations, abuse of power, and unwillingness to acknowledge wrongdoing or take steps to make amends shows a complete disregard for the position of authority he was entrusted with as well as the community he serves. FACE affirms the findings of the Imams’ Council of Windsor and all those who came forward in an attempt to hold Subject accountable.

Furthermore, An-Noor Private School’s abuse enablement and neglect by continued affiliation with and affirming language of Subject, despite knowing the danger he posed to vulnerable persons, prioritizes their reputation in the community above protecting victims and congregants.

If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse by ​Mohamed Ali Mohamed Egeesa Abo Ras​ or other religious and community leaders, please do not hesitate to contact us. ​www.facetogether.org/report FACE info@facetogether.org (844) 360-2489 (call or text) 9