Iraqi refugee pleads guilty in U.S. to trying to help Islamic State
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 18 October 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Iraqi refugee pleads guilty in U.S. to trying to help Islamic State, 18 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a11b4.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
October 18, 2016
An Iraqi refugee has pleaded guilty in Texas to attempting to provide support to the Islamic State (IS) extremist group.
Prosecutors said Omar Faraj Saeed al-Hardan, 24, pleaded guilty in a Houston federal court on October 17.
He took an oath of loyalty to the IS group in November 2014 and began supporting the IS group publicly on social media, according to the plea agreement.
Hardan faces up to 20 years in prison.
In 2014 and 2015, prosecutors said he told a federal source that he planned to travel overseas to support the IS group.
He also said he had taught himself to make remote detonators and showed off a circuit board he built as a transmitter.
Hardan was arrested in January.
He entered the United States as an Iraqi refugee in 2009 after spending time in refugee camps in Jordan and Iraq, according to prosecutors.
He was later granted legal permanent residence.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
