An Islamic Center in Minnesota has written to a judge handling the case of a man convicted of child rape seeking leniency for him over “this situation,” when he “abducted the 12-year-old girl from her backyard, bashed her over the head, and transported her in his car, where he raped her before she was able to escape.”
It is the Post-Millennial that described the advocacy by the Al-Ihsan Islamic Center of St. Paul, Minn., on behalf of Qulinle Dirie, who is “member” of that community.
The 42-year-old Dirie was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being found guilty by a jury of first-degree sexual conduct, which was the minimum sentence guidelines allowed, the report said.
After his conviction, the Islamic Center contacted the judge, Michael Burns, asking for leniency.
“The situation [Dirie] is currently facing comes as a deep shock to all of us,” the letter states. “It does not reflect the man we know – a man whose actions have consistently reflected family and community.
“We respectfully ask that this letter be considered as a sincere reflection of who Qalinle Dirie truly is.”
The Islamists in the center said he was “an active volunteer in our mosque.” He was there regularly for prayers, Ramadan and community events.
He helped “elders find rides home” and even helped clean up.
Further, it counseled that Dirie was born in Somalia and lived in refugee camps in Kenya.
With that, the center said he has faced “the challenge of starting over in a new culture.”
The center said, “His service has never been about recognition — just a quiet commitment to supporting the spaces that hold our community together.”
Explained the report, “For the Islamic center, that’s a good enough reason to support a child rapist. ”
Accompanying the center’s letter was a letter where the convict’s family explained that Dirie “is a deeply good man whose presence enriches the lives of those around him.”
Alpha News reported, “According to criminal charges, the victim had contact information for a ‘Mohamed Muuse’ in her phone. When asked about that person, the victim said ‘Mohamed Muuse’ was the man who assaulted her. Using that cellphone contact, a sting operation was set up by the victim’s family several weeks after the assault. Dirie arrived at the victim’s home and was taken into police custody.”
Prosecutors said for the court record that he continues to deny that he committed the assault.