Lodi residents shocked, upset by Hayat decisions

Local residents were shocked Tuesday to learn 23-year-old Lodi resident Hamid Hayat was found guilty by a federal jury on separate counts of lying to the FBI about his connections to a terrorist training camp in Pakistan and providing material support to terrorists.

The news came hours after a different jury declared a mistrial in the case against Hayat's father, Umer Hayat, who faced similar charges. The jury's forewoman, Woodbridge resident Debra Kiriu, claimed both sides failed to present any conclusive evidence in the case against the 48-year-old ice cream vendor.

Word of the deadlock in the Umer Hayat case had brought some hope to locals who thought the decision was a sign the government's case against the men was weak and that Hamid Hayat's jury would also declare a mistrial.

But when a second jury reentered a Sacramento courtroom later that afternoon and declared Hamid Hayat guilty on all counts, people were surprised and dismayed to hear the news.

"This is not justice," said longtime Lodi resident Taj Khan, who testified against the government's claim that a high-ranking al-Qaida operative had spent time in the area. "(The Hayats) are people we know are innocent. Something needs to be looked at."

Khan said local Muslims have been looking forward to some kind of resolution in the cases, which have gone on for nearly a year, though the news will be met with great sadness by some members of the community.

Lodi City Councilman John Beckman, who was mayor last June when the Hayats were arrested, said the deadlock in the Umer Hayat case seemed to reveal the FBI lacked strong evidence. He said the guilty verdict against Hamid Hayat could have unfortunate implications for the city of Lodi.

"It will create a question in people's minds about the Pakistani community," Beckman said. "It would be nice to have the Pakistani community appear to be more active and involved in our war on terror."

Current Lodi Mayor Susan Hitchcock said the aftermath of the recent guilty verdict is likely to haunt members of the Pakistani community.

Still, she added, with the ruling comes some measure of finality to a years-long federal investigation into a possible terrorist cell in Lodi and a message to would-be terrorists.

"People are going to have to be careful of what they say and do," Hitchcock said. "We just have to trust in our (juries) that they took in all the facts and are doing what's in the best interest of all of us."

Other locals, like Lodi Mosque member Malik Ahmad, said that while a guilty verdict may be upsetting to Muslims who believed the Hayats were being held unfairly, it also means people would soon return to their normal, daily routines.

Basim Elkarra, executive director of the Sacramento branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said late Tuesday that the group was still preparing a response to the decisions, but was stunned by the verdict.

"We're shocked by the news and are trying to understand what the jurors saw that observers (of the case) didn't see."

Contact reporter Sara Cardine at sarac@lodinews.com.

First published: Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Reader Feedback

Hip-Hip Hooray! ( Terra ) wrote on May 1, 2006 8:47 AM:

" I am glad he is found guilty! Anyone who disagrees should be found guilty too! "

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