Ahmad Wais Afzali
Encyclopedia
Ahmad Wais Afzali is an imam
from Queens, New York, who has also been an informant
for the New York City Police. Afzali moved to the U.S. in 1981.
He reportedly had helped authorities by answering routine questions about individuals they were interested in. But he was not a paid informant, and had been called upon infrequently.
He was arrested on September 19, 2009, on "charges of lying in a matter involving terrorism."
, a citizen of Afghanistan
and legal resident of the U.S., fell under suspicion. On September 9, 2009, Zazi began a drive from Denver to New York City
to engage in a suicide bombing martyrdom operation on the New York City subway during rush hour
, at the direction of al-Qaeda
.
The following day New York City Police asked Afzali to identify individuals in a series of photographs that included Zazi. Afzali told the police he recognized Zazi and others. The next day Afzali spoke by telephone with Zazi and Zazi's father, telling them about the police inquiry and what Afzali had told the police.
Among the charges Afzali faced was that, during his September 11, 2009, conversation, he warned Zazi that the police had come asking questions about him, and then lied to the FBI about having done so in two subsequent interrogations. He also said that the call was being monitored. Afzali was represented by human rights
lawyer Ron Kuby
. He was released on secured bail of $1.5 million.
On March 4,2010, in a plea bargain
he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of lying to U.S. federal agents, and said he was sorry. He faces up to six months in prison, and as part of the plea arrangement the government agreed not to request any jail time. Brooklyn federal judge Frederic Block
will sentence him on April 8. As part of his plea agreement, Afzali will voluntarily leave the U.S. within 90 days after completing any prison sentence imposed by the judge. As a felon
, he will not be allowed to return to the U.S.
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
from Queens, New York, who has also been an informant
Informant
An informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency. The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants , and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information...
for the New York City Police. Afzali moved to the U.S. in 1981.
He reportedly had helped authorities by answering routine questions about individuals they were interested in. But he was not a paid informant, and had been called upon infrequently.
He was arrested on September 19, 2009, on "charges of lying in a matter involving terrorism."
Involvement in Zazi failed al-Qaeda attack, and guilty plea
Najibullah ZaziNajibullah Zazi
Najibullah Zazi is an Afghan-American who was arrested in September 2009 as part of the 2009 U.S. Al Qaeda group accused of planning suicide bombings on the New York City subway system, and has pled guilty as have two other defendants. U.S...
, a citizen of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and legal resident of the U.S., fell under suspicion. On September 9, 2009, Zazi began a drive from Denver to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to engage in a suicide bombing martyrdom operation on the New York City subway during rush hour
Rush hour
A rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening, the times during when the most people commute...
, at the direction of al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
.
The following day New York City Police asked Afzali to identify individuals in a series of photographs that included Zazi. Afzali told the police he recognized Zazi and others. The next day Afzali spoke by telephone with Zazi and Zazi's father, telling them about the police inquiry and what Afzali had told the police.
Among the charges Afzali faced was that, during his September 11, 2009, conversation, he warned Zazi that the police had come asking questions about him, and then lied to the FBI about having done so in two subsequent interrogations. He also said that the call was being monitored. Afzali was represented by human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
lawyer Ron Kuby
Ron Kuby
Ronald L. Kuby is a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer, radio talk show host and TV commentator. He has hosted radio programs on WABC Radio in New York and Air America Radio.-Beginnings:...
. He was released on secured bail of $1.5 million.
On March 4,2010, in a plea bargain
Plea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of lying to U.S. federal agents, and said he was sorry. He faces up to six months in prison, and as part of the plea arrangement the government agreed not to request any jail time. Brooklyn federal judge Frederic Block
Frederic Block
Frederic Block is a United States federal judge.Born in Brooklyn, New York, Block received an A.B. from Indiana University in 1956 and an LL.B. from Cornell Law School in 1959. He was a clerk to the New York Supreme Court, appellate division, from 1959 to 1961...
will sentence him on April 8. As part of his plea agreement, Afzali will voluntarily leave the U.S. within 90 days after completing any prison sentence imposed by the judge. As a felon
Felon
Felon may refer to:* Someone who commits a felony* Whitlow, a purulent inflammation of the pulp of a finger* A slang term for Summer Mastitis in cows in the United Kingdom* Felon, Territoire de Belfort, a commune of the Franche-Comté region, in France...
, he will not be allowed to return to the U.S.
See also
- Najibullah ZaziNajibullah ZaziNajibullah Zazi is an Afghan-American who was arrested in September 2009 as part of the 2009 U.S. Al Qaeda group accused of planning suicide bombings on the New York City subway system, and has pled guilty as have two other defendants. U.S...
- September 11 attacks
- 2004 Madrid train bombings
- 2005 London subway bombings7 July 2005 London bombingsThe 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
- Michael FintonMichael FintonMichael C. Finton, also known as Talib Islam , a convert to Islam and a part-time cook at a fish and chicken restaurant, attempted to bomb the Paul Findley Federal Building and the adjacent offices of Congressman Aaron Schock in downtown Springfield, Illinois, on September 24, 2009...
, attempted bombing of U.S. target with FBI agent he thought was al-Qaeda member, in September 2009.