April 21, 2025 – New York, NY: A U.S. federal appeals court has upheld the 30-year prison sentence of Abid Naseer, a convicted al-Qaeda operative linked to multiple international terror plots, including a 2009 plan to bomb a shopping center in Manchester, England. The ruling concludes a multi-year legal battle, rejecting Naseer’s efforts to obtain a reduced sentence following a prior partial conviction reversal.
📜 Appeals Court Rejects Sentence Reduction
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed that the lower court was within its legal discretion to deny Naseer a full resentencing hearing. Naseer, a Pakistani national convicted in 2015, argued that after one of his charges was vacated in 2022, his case warranted a fresh sentencing review. However, the appellate panel concluded that there were no new mitigating factors and that the original sentencing judge was well-acquainted with the facts and context of the case.
“Although Naseer’s counts of conviction now change with the vacatur of Count Ten, the conduct in which he engaged and for which this Court deemed a forty-year sentence appropriate, has not,” the panel quoted from Judge Raymond Dearie’s prior decision.
⚖️ Legal Background: United States v. Davis Impact
The appeal followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2019 ruling in United States v. Davis, which narrowed the legal definition of a “crime of violence.” This resulted in the vacating of one of Naseer’s convictions in 2022—specifically the charge of using a destructive device in relation to a violent crime. As a result, his sentence was reduced from 40 years to 30 years.
Still, Judge Dearie decided not to conduct a full resentencing hearing, citing the unchanged facts of the case and the continued threat posed by Naseer, who prosecutors say has never shown remorse or rehabilitation.
🔗 Connection to Global Terror Plots
Naseer was extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States in 2013 and tried in a Brooklyn federal court. He was convicted in 2015 on multiple charges, including conspiracy to provide material support to al-Qaeda. Authorities linked him to a broader plot that included the 2009 Manchester bombing plan, as well as planned attacks on the New York City subway system and a newspaper office in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Although Naseer was not directly charged in the U.S. and Denmark-related plots, prosecutors asserted that he maintained communication and coordination with other al-Qaeda members involved in those operations, making him a key figure in a three-pronged terror strategy targeting the West.
🚨 Arrest and Trial
Naseer was arrested in the UK in April 2009, just days before the anticipated Manchester attack. His arrest followed intelligence from British agencies, whose operatives testified in disguise during the trial to protect their identities. Throughout the legal proceedings, Naseer represented himself in court and prepared his defense from prison.
At sentencing in 2015, Robert Capers, then U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, stated: “This al-Qaeda plot was intended by the group’s leaders and Naseer to send a message to the United States and its allies. Today’s sentence sends an even more powerful message in response: terrorists who target the U.S. and its allies will be held accountable for their violent crimes to the full extent of the law.”
📌 No Remorse, No Leniency
In denying Naseer’s appeal, the Second Circuit noted the absence of any expression of remorse or evidence of changed thinking that might suggest a reduced risk to society. The court emphasized that Naseer’s core conduct remained unchanged and continued to pose a significant concern for public safety.
Naseer’s attorney, Randa Maher, did not immediately respond to media requests following the ruling.
🌍 Broader Implications
This case stands as a stark reminder of the reach of international terrorism networks and the importance of judicial consistency in dealing with high-risk defendants. The ruling also illustrates the cautious application of post-conviction legal changes, ensuring that justice remains balanced with national security considerations.
Category: Terrorism, U.S. Law & Justice, World News
Tags: Abid Naseer, Appeals Court, Al-Qaeda, Terror Plots, Manchester Bombing, Brooklyn Court, Randa Maher, Raymond Dearie
