Career

Following his arrest, in February 2003, both Attorney General John Ashcroft and New York State Governor Pataki characterized Dhafir as a "suspected terrorist," a claim the federal government did not pursue. An appeal was filed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Oral arguments were presented on August 28, 2008.

Ruling almost a year later, on August 18, 2009, the court of appeals upheld Doctor Dhafir"s convictions but vacated his sentence and remanded to the district court for resentencing.