A Brooklyn man, Rasheedul Mowla, has entered a guilty plea for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York announced earlier. Mowla, a U.S. citizen, admitted to his intentions to join the ranks of a terrorist organization known for its extreme violence and threats on a global scale.
United States Attorney John J. Durham affirmed that Mowla was set to travel and support ISIS, which has claimed countless lives, including many Americans. “Thanks to the diligent efforts of law enforcement, Mowla’s plan to join ISIS was thwarted. This Office remains steadfast in its efforts to pursue and bring to justice those who support terrorism,” Durham highlighted in a statement obtained by the Justice Department. If convicted, Mowla faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
The case brought to light Mowla's attempt back in June 2017 to leave for Syria under the guise of participating in an Islamic holiday in Saudi Arabia. Assistant Director in Charge at the FBI’s New York Field Office, Christopher G. Raia, released a statement detailing how Mowla was arrested before he could enter Syria and was deported back to the United States. Raia mentioned that the individual was determined to actively support their extremist ideologies with physical violence.
Mowla's extremist views went beyond misguided beliefs—he was clearly prepared to take up arms against his own country, siding with a brutal militant group. “Rasheedul Mowla wasn’t just planning to join ISIS—he was ready to kill and die for them,” New York City Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch asserted, reported by the Justice Department.
According to court documents, even before his Middle East journey, Mowla had knowledge of ISIS's terrorist designation and their violent history, which includes attacks and killings. The National Security and Cybercrime Section of the Eastern District of New York, along with the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section, is handling the prosecution, with Assistant United States Attorney Meredith A. Arfa and Trial Attorney John Cella leading the efforts.
