Imam entangled in terrorism case deported; some parting words are ‘God bless America’

Imam entangled in terrorism case deported

NEW YORK — An imam who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during the investigation into a suicide bomb plot against New York City subway stations has been deported.

The lawyer for Ahmad Afzali (AKH’-mahd ahf-ZAH’-lee) says Afzali and his wife left on a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight to Jeddah on Monday afternoon. Two immigration agents accompanied him to the plane to ensure he got on. Afzali’s lawyer says some of Afzali’s last words on U.S. ground were: ‘God bless America.’

Afzali’s wife Fatima got a position teaching English in Saudi Arabia. Afzali isn’t quite sure what he’s going to do there. The Afghanistan-born imam has lived most of his life in Queens.

He was sentenced April 15 to time served and deportation. Najibullah Zazi pleaded guilty in plot disrupted by federal and NYPD officials.