The former New York doctor accused of swearing allegiance to al Qaeda told a federal jury yesterday he was more interested in polygamy than terrorism. Rafiq Sabir testified in Manhattan federal court that when he worked in Saudi Arabia in 2005, he reflected on the virtues of multiple wives. He read Islamic texts on the subject and wanted to convince his wife it could work. "I wanted to have another wife. She was not for that at all, polygamy," Sabir said. "I figured I could come back [to the United States] and talk to her about it, at least talk."
A father of four kids with a complicated marital history that includes at least four wives, Sabir said he believed polygamy was the solution when his current wife refused to have more kids.
"While you were in Saudi Arabia, did you attempt to get involved with al Qaeda?" defense lawyer Ed Wilford asked. "No. Absolutely not," the doctor replied. Federal authorities say he promised to treat injured jihad fighters.