[JURIST] A Manhattan federal jury Monday convicted [press release] Dr. Rafik Abdus Sabir, a US citizen with a medical practice based in Florida, of conspiracy to provide material support to al Qaeda and attempting to provide that support. Sabir was arrested and charged [JURIST report] in May 2005 following several meetings with an undercover FBI agent posing as an al Qaeda recruiter, during which Sabir pledged his loyalty to al Qaeda and agreed to provide medical assistance to wounded terrorists in Saudi Arabia. Sabir's sentencing is scheduled for September 12. He faces up to 30 years in prison.

Tarik Shah [JURIST report], another defendant who had agreed to teach hand-to-hand combat to al Qaeda members, pleaded guilty before trial to providing material support to a terrorist organization and agreed to serve 15 years. Two other defendants, a Brooklyn bookstore owner and a Washington DC taxi driver, have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to 13 and 15 years in prison respectively. AP has more.