Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Supporting ISIS

A Brooklyn man on Thursday pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), according to federal and city officials.

Rasheedul Mowla, a U.S. citizen, travelled to Syria to join ISIS and expressed his willingness to actively support their extremist ideologies with physical
violence, according to a press release.

“Mowla sought to join a violent foreign terrorist organization that has conducted and inspired terrorist attacks worldwide, killing numerous innocent victims, including American citizens,” stated United States Attorney John J. Durham.

As detailed in court documents, the defendant traveled to Saudi Arabia in June 2017, purportedly to celebrate an Islamic religious holiday. Upon his arrival in Saudi Arabia, the defendant attempted to travel to Syria to join ISIS. He was apprehended before entering Syria and, on August 29, 2017, was deported back to the United States.

The defendant previously admitted to law enforcement authorities that, prior to traveling to the Middle East, he knew that ISIS was a terrorist organization that
committed terrorist attacks and killed people. He further admitted that, had he successfully arrived in Syria to join ISIS, he was planning to shoot weapons and willing to die on behalf of ISIS.

“Rasheedul Mowla wasn’t just planning to join ISIS—he was ready to kill and die for them,” said New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “That kind of threat demands a swift response.”

When sentenced, Mowla faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.