Rasheedul Mowla, Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS, New York 2023

Rasheedul Mowla, a 28-year-old Brooklyn resident, has pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a foreign terrorist organization, in federal court in Brooklyn. Mowla faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.

The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly. Mowla was apprehended in Saudi Arabia in June 2017, while attempting to travel to Syria to join ISIS. He was deported back to the United States on August 29, 2017.

According to court documents, Mowla previously admitted to law enforcement authorities that he knew ISIS was a terrorist organization that committed terrorist attacks and killed people. He also 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.

“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. “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.”

“Rasheedul Mowla made a concerted attempt to travel to Syria to join ISIS and expressed his willingness to actively support their extremist ideologies with physical violence,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “This is evidence of the FBI’s enduring commitment to leveraging the NY JTTF to interdict any United States citizen seeking to participate in terrorist activities, and ensure they no longer pose a threat to this nation.”

“Rasheedul Mowla wasn’t just planning to join ISIS—he was ready to kill and die for them,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “That kind of threat demands a swift response, and thanks to the work of the NYPD and our federal partners, it was stopped before anyone got hurt. This case underscores the importance of constant vigilance and the critical role our investigators play in keeping New York and the entire country safe.”

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