greggerypeccary wrote on Aug 3
rd, 2025 at 10:08am:
Stop defending paedophiles.
Tell Muslims, too.
An Islamic center in St. Paul, Minnesota, wrote a letter on behalf of a Somali immigrant convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl, asking a judge to consider its “heartfelt support” of the 42-year-old perpetrator when sentencing.
The letter, posted by Alpha News on X, was sent to Judge Michael E. Burns in the pre-sentencing phase after a jury convicted Qalinle Ibrahim Dirie, 42, of first-degree sexual conduct after he allegedly approached a young girl last June when she was playing in the backyard of her home.

The Al-Ihsan Islamic in St. Paul echoed the family members, writing that Dirie had “faced the challenge of starting over in a new culture,” expressed “love for his family and kids,” and even sent money back to Somalia to support family members there.
The letter concluded:
The situation [Dirie] is currently facing comes as a deep shock to all of us. 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. His contributions may not make headlines, but to us, he has made a positive difference.
Judge Burns’ sentence was the least amount of prison time recommended by Minnesota’s sentencing guidelines, according to Alpha News. He potentially could be released in 2033 and remain on probation for the rest of the sentence.