NewsMax.com Wires
Thursday, May 10, 2007

Reprint Information

Book on Katie Couric Makes Waves White House: We're Not Subject to FOIA FBI Seeks 2 Mysterious Men on Ferry Publisher: Conservatives Do Read As Much As Liberals Romney Shrugs Off Mormon History Film

NEW YORK -- A Florida doctor accused of swearing allegiance to al Qaeda and agreeing to treat wounded fighters testified on Wednesday that he supported neither the militant Islamist group nor its leader Osama bin Laden and was confused when he appeared to do so.

Rafiq Sabir, 52, is on trial in federal court in Manhattan on charges of conspiring to provide material support to al Qaeda. He faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Sabir testified that he misunderstood a May 2005 meeting in New York at which he was secretly recorded pledging allegiance to al Qaeda and "Sheikh Osama" by an FBI agent posing as a recruiter.

"Osama is a common name," Sabir said. He said he did not think "Osama" referred to Osama bin Laden and did not realize he was pledging allegiance to al Qaeda.

"There is no way I am going to align myself with al Qaeda; that is just not me," he said, before condemning "all the nasty things they have done around the world, killing people, innocent people, the atrocities."

He said he also was confused when he promised to help "mujahideen" and said he thought that meant Iraqis, not al Qaeda fighters. Sabir also said that, as a doctor, he had an obligation to help people.

"What was on my mind was the people of Iraq," he said. "I had no idea he was talking about al Qaeda."

Story Continues Below

Prosecutors say Sabir knew he was agreeing to help al Qaeda, as did three other defendants who have already pleaded guilty.

In April, New York jazz musician Tarik Shah and Mahmud Faruq Brent, a Maryland cab driver, pleaded guilty to related charges, but have not been sentenced. A fourth defendant, Brooklyn bookstore owner Abdulrahman Farhane, pleaded guilty and last month was sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Prosecutors were expected to cross-examine Sabir on Thursday.

© Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.

Editor's note:
The Clinton Crack-Up Has Arrived — FREE Offer
Why gold could skyrocket in 2007. Two best ways to cash in.
Hold the Toothpaste – Fluoride Is Toxic – Click Here Now

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Al-Qaeda
War on Terrorism