WASHINGTON, March 30: An American Muslim has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for allegedly joining Al Qaeda and plotting to kill President Bush. Prosecutors had asked for the maximum, a life sentence, for Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, 25, a US citizen born to a Jordanian father and raised in the Washington suburb of Falls Church.

But Judge Gerald Bruce Lee of the US District Court at Alexandria, another Washington suburb, said 30-year was sufficient punishment.

He compared the Abu Ali case to ‘American Taliban’ John Walker Lindh, who received a 20-year sentence.

Abu Ali’s actions ‘did not result in one single actual victim. That fact must be taken into account’, the judge said.

Prosecutors said Abu Ali travelled to Saudi Arabia and joined Al Qaeda out of hatred for the United States. The Saudis arrested Abu Ali in June 2003.

Prosecutors also acknowledged that Abu Ali did not participate in any activity to translate his beliefs into action and had only discussed his plans with his friends.

Abu Ali was convicted in November of conspiracy to assassinate President Bush and providing support to Al Qaeda, among other crimes but the sentencing was deferred.

Abu Ali’s conviction was based primarily on his confession to Saudi authorities while in detention there.

His attorney argued the confession was coerced and obtained only after he was tortured by Saudi officials and denied legal counsel.

His mother, Faten Abu Ali, told reporters after her son’s sentencing: “I think it’s a sad day not only for me as a mother but for the whole country.

“America is all about justice and democracy. Before we export democracy to the outside, we have to have it in our own land. My son didn’t have a fair trial.”