Pakistani living in US charged for wanting to fight in Syria

Basit Javed Sheikh, 29, was arrested on November 2 for trying to board a plane to Beirut.


Afp November 12, 2013
FBI claims that Sheikh wanted to go to Syria to fight for rebel group. PHOTO: FILE

WASHINGTON: A Pakistani living legally in the United States has been charged with attempting to join an al Qaeda linked militant group in Syria after falling for an FBI sting, the Justice Department said Tuesday.

Basit Javed Sheikh, 29, allegedly contacted an undercover FBI agent, believing him to be a member of Jabhat al-Nusrah, which the State Department identifies as a Syrian al Qaeda affiliate.

According to the US attorney's office in North Carolina, where Sheikh was charged last week, he allegedly expressed his wish to go to Syria "to help the mujahideen...in any way I can."

Asked how he planned to help, Sheikh responded "logistics, media, fight too, God willing," the statement claimed.

According to a 25-page affidavit from FBI agent Jason Maslow, Sheikh allegedly told him in an online voice call that he was ready to "be a martyr" for the struggle.

The agent also described how, starting in April 2013, the Pakistani reportedly posted several times on Facebook in support of Jabhat al-Nusrah, one of Syria's most prominent armed militant groups.

Sheikh was arrested on November 2 at the Raleigh-Durham airport in North Carolina just before boarding a plane.

The destination on his one-way ticket was Beirut, Lebanon, and he allegedly planned to cross the border into Syria, believing that the undercover FBI agent would be able to help.

If he is found guilty, he faces a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and three years supervised release.

COMMENTS (40)

Sexton Blake | 10 years ago | Reply

@Mirza: Dear Mirza, By and large you are correct. The US still possesses a partial Constitution which allows free speech, and is perhaps the only country in the world which does? However, there are many ways around it. One can be sued for defamation or libel. Alternatively, it appears that US citizens can be charged with almost anything under the Terrorist Act, or new Statutes, which seem to constantly and conveniently pop-up. If that does not work, and the persons they want to get are not US citizens they can usually get them deported to another country which does not have freedom of speech, such as Canada, one of the other five eyes, or Europe. One way or another US authorities can usually fudge the situation to get you. As you say, one has to be careful and not make a fuss. Fortunately, Basit Taved Sheikh was stopped in time.

Mirza | 10 years ago | Reply Free speech even in support of terrorist organizations is allowed under the US laws. It is when a person becomes a practical supporter of notorious terrorist organizations and takes practical steps in its support the law comes into action. Thinking to rob a bank is not a crime but actually doing it is. There are many who oppose the US policies in a democratic way and it is fine with the laws. Going and supporting the arch enemies is treason. This stupid would be terrorist should have left the US and gone wherever he wanted to without making a big fuss.
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