Bill Aossey should not be in jail

To the editor:

This letter is written in support of Bill Aossey, who is in the Linn County Jail.

I am an American citizen now, but I emigrated from Somalia in 1996. When I came to Cedar Rapids, Aossey was a truly gracious host. He brought us meats that we had never seen before. He would help us when we needed to go out shopping. He was the only person I could go to for financial help, sometimes loaning me several thousand dollars.

He has done a lot of things for the Islamic Center, buying things that were needed. And it wasn't just money; he gave plenty of his time, too, often doing such things as cleaning.

The most important thing he taught us was that we should be proud to be Americans. He was so proud to be an American. Because of that, he told us that we had to do things right and set an example for others.

Aossey should not be in jail. We feel so bad and so sad about this. I know a lot of other Somalis and immigrants that he helped feel the same way too.

Muriyo Mohamud

Cedar Rapids