Afghanistan-born imam Ahmad Afzali has avoided jail after being sentenced four days September 20 to 24, 2009 after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI.
The Afzali said he had wanted to help authorities in the investigation of the New York City subway threat, but lied to the FBI about his phone conversations with admitted al-Qaida associate Najibullah Zazi. Afzali denied that he told Zazi that he was under surveillance in New York. Afzali emotionally claimed that he never intended “to help those idiots for what they do in the name of Islam.”
The imam has been ordered to leave the United States within 90 days. If Afzali does not leave the country within 90 days, he will be deported to Afghanistan.