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Relatives of Lodi men summoned in terror probe
Four relatives of a father and son held on terror-related charges said they have been summoned to testify before a federal grand jury because they refused to talk to federal investigators.
They are relatives of Hamid Hayat, 22, and his father, Umer Hayat, 47, who have both indicted and are jailed without bond on charges of lying to the FBI.
Arslan Hayat, 16, another son of Umer Hayat, was subpoenaed along with three cousins: Sadiq Shoaib, Usama Ismail and Kaashif Altaf.
Ismail, 19, said they were given subpoenas because they refused to submit to questioning by FBI agents. He said an agent offered to drop the subpoena if he agreed to be questioned.
Ismail previously told reporters he was with Hamid Hayat much of the time he was in Pakistan and denied that his cousin attended a terror camp. He said Hamid Hayat, who was in Pakistan to get married, is more interested in cricket than politics. Ismail said he would repeat those statements in his testimony to the grand jury.
The four risk being placed in jail if they don't testify. The proceeding was scheduled for Thursday.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office said she couldn't comment, and an FBI spokeswoman did not immediately return a telephone message from The Associated Press.
Meanwhile, Lodi Mayor John Beckman arranged a meeting between Sacramento conservative radio host Mark Williams and Basim Elkarra, the executive director of the Sacramento chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Beckman said the lunch meeting at Wine and Roses was productive and established a common ground between Williams and Elkerra, who have repeatedly clashed over the ongoing investigation in Lodi. He said that may translate into more momentum for some type of rally by the local Muslim population denouncing terrorism.
"Everybody walked away very happy," he said.

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