Al Qaeda Doctor Convicted

(New York City) A 52-year-old Florida-based doctor, Rafiq Abdus Sabir, was convicted today in federal court in Manhattan of conspiracy to provide material support and providing or attempting to provide material support or resources to al Qaeda.

From Reuters:

The case did not involve any attack plot, but centered on an oath that Sabir and his close friend Tarik Shah made in Arabic in May 2005 to an undercover FBI agent posing as an al Qaeda recruiter. He taped both men pledging support to the militant Islamic group and "Sheikh Osama."

Sabir, a strict Muslim born and raised in New York, testified during the trial that he did not realize during the meeting that "Osama" referred to Osama bin Laden and had misunderstood the pronunciation of "al Qaeda" due to his limited Arabic.

Sabir's defensive argument didn't ring true for the jury. It's doubtful that any sane individual would buy the contention that he didn't know that "Sheikh Osama" meant Osama bin Laden. Nevertheless, as a result of the conviction, he faces a possible 30-year prison term when sentencing occurs on September 12th.

His close friend, Tarik Shah, caught in the same sting operation, pleaded guilty and agreed to a 15-year prison term. He has yet to be sentenced.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.