Mohamed Rafik Naji, Attempting to Join ISIS, New York 2018

Attempt to Join Terrorist Group Ends in 20-Year Prison Sentence

Brooklyn, New York - In a federal court in Brooklyn, Mohamed Rafik Naji was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, followed by five years supervised release, for attempting to provide material support or resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a foreign terrorist organization. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Frederic Block on [no exact date mentioned in the source, but it occurred in 2018, presumably after February, when Naji pleaded guilty].

Naji, a New York man, pleaded guilty to the charge in February 2018. He had become a committed supporter of ISIS's murderous cause and repeatedly promoted and distributed ISIS propaganda with violent themes and messages on social media. In March 2015, Naji traveled from New York to Yemen in an effort to join ISIS.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers praised the result, stating, 'Time and again, the United States has brought to justice those who have traveled from here to try and fight for ISIS.' He thanked the agents, analysts, and prosecutors responsible for the case.

United States Attorney Richard P. Donoghue said, 'With today's sentence, Naji has been held accountable for trying to enter a foreign war zone and join ISIS's murderous cause.' He commended the FBI, the NYPD, and the members of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force for their outstanding work in the case.

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said, 'Extremists like Mr. Naji believe murdering innocent people advances their political agendas.' He stated that Naji's actions led to a different vantage point - through the steel bars of a federal prison.

NYPD Commissioner James P. O'Neill said, 'This case is a reminder that New York City remains the top target for terrorism in the U.S.' He thanked the dedicated members of the JTTF who worked on the investigation to keep the city safe.

Naji's crime dates back to late 2014, when he became a committed supporter of ISIS's murderous cause. He traveled to Yemen in March 2015 to join the terrorist group. After his return to the United States, Naji continued to express his support for ISIS and violent jihad.

Naji will spend the next 20 years behind bars for his attempt to join the terrorist organization. The sentence serves as a reminder of the consequences of supporting and attempting to join terrorist groups.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/new-york-man-sentenced-20-years-prison-attempting-join-isis-yemen