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Imam held in attack on boy at mosque

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By JOSH POLTILOVE

jpoltilove@tampatrib.com

Published: May 19, 2009

TAMPA - A teenage boy was sexually battered by a prayer leader while he was staying overnight at a Tampa mosque, police said Monday.

The 13-year-old was at the Masjid Omar Al Mukhtar mosque waiting for Sunday's early morning prayer.

About 6 a.m., he was attacked by Yasser Mohamed Shahade, a 35-year-old imam who has been living at the mosque, police said.

Police were called by Tampa General Hospital, but the boy's condition was not available.

Shahade has been in the country about two months.

He declined to comment Monday.

Alaa Attia, a trustee of the mosque, 1307 W. North B St., said that these types of crimes go against the teachings of Islam.

Ramzy Kilic, executive director of the Tampa Council on American Islamic Relations, agreed. If the accusations are true, he said, "the full justice of the law should be brought to this person."

Shahade was being held on a sexual battery charge in the Orient Road Jail on Monday evening. His bail had not been set.

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk and researcher Stephanie Pincus contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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