Allocution of Ahmad Wais Afzali in Brooklyn federal court:

Over the past few years, I have worked as a liaison between the authorities and my community. I have always assisted the police, whenever they have asked. I did so because I love this country and I love my community.

On September 10th of last year, the police came to me and asked for my assistance in providing information about Najibullah Zazi, a family member of his, Adis Medunjanin and Zarein Ahmedzay.

I knew Zazi and Adis fairly well when they were teenagers and used to come to my mosque for prayers and volleyball. I agreed to help the police. The police interest in these men led me to believe that they were involved in some criminal activity, but I had no idea of its seriousness. I had known them when they were boys, and did not think they were capable of serious crime. I thought perhaps they had fallen in with the wrong people or gotten caught up in something.

On September 11th, I called Najibullah Zazi. His telephone number had been given to me by his father. During that conversation, I told Najibullah that law enforcement authorities had been to see me about him. I told him that I wanted to set up a meeting with the authorities over the next few days. I told him that our phone call was being monitored. I told Zazi, “Don’t get involved in Afghanistan garbage and Iraq garbage, that’s my advice to you.”

On September 13th, in the evening, I was taken by the police to 26 Federal Plaza, where I was interrogated by FBI agents for the first time. I believed that the FBI was angry at me for calling Zazi. When I was asked whether I had told Zazi about law enforcement being interested in him, I lied and said I did not. My intention was not to protect Zazi, but to protect myself.

On September 18th, I was again interrogated at the U.S. Attorney’s office in Brooklyn and I repeated the same lie. In doing so, I failed to live up to my obligation to this country, my community, my family, and my religion. I am truly sorry.