Overview

Uzbek-born Abror Habibov is an alleged New York-based financier and facilitator for ISIS.Marc Santora and Nate Schweber, “In Brooklyn, eager to join ISIS, if only his mother would return his passport,” New York Times, February 26, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/nyregion/isis-plot-brooklyn-men.html. Habibov reportedly financed and facilitated would-be foreign fighters Akhror Saidakhmetov and Abdurasul Juraboev, who in February 2015 attempted to travel to Syria to join ISIS.Marc Santora and Nate Schweber, “In Brooklyn, eager to join ISIS, if only his mother would return his passport,” New York Times, February 26, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/nyregion/isis-plot-brooklyn-men.html. Habibov is also believed to have had a contact in Turkey who made regular trips to Syria.“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA against ABDURASUL HASANOVICH JURABOEV, also known as “Abdulloh Ibn Hasan,” AKHROR SAIDAKHMETOV, and ABROR HABIBOV, Defendants.,” United States Department of Justice, February 24, 2015,, http://www.justice.gov/file/344761/download. Saidakhmetov expected Habibov to put him in touch with this contact to help him cross over to Syria from Turkey.“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA against ABDURASUL HASANOVICH JURABOEV, also known as “Abdulloh Ibn Hasan,” AKHROR SAIDAKHMETOV, and ABROR HABIBOV, Defendants.,” United States Department of Justice, February 24, 2015,, http://www.justice.gov/file/344761/download.

Habibov was arrested in Jacksonville, Florida, on February 25, 2015, and was ordered held without bail.“Who is terror suspect Abror Habibov?” First Coast News, February 25, 2015, http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/2015/02/25/who-is-abror-habibov/24009399/. According to CBS, he faces “charges of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists.”“FBI: 3 Brooklyn men arrested for attempting to join ISIS, plotting terror attacks in U.S,” CBS, February 15th 2015, http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/02/25/fbi-3-brooklyn-men-arrested-for-attempting-to-join-isis/. On March 13, he pled not guilty in court.“4 men charged in alleged plot to help ISIS plead not guilty in Brooklyn,” CBS, April 8, 2015, http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/04/08/4-men-charged-in-plot-to-help-isis-plead-not-guilty-in-brooklyn/.

Habibov worked with Dilkhayot Kasimov, who assisted him in funding Saidakhmetov and Juraboev’s trips.“Fourth Brooklyn man charged in plot to join ISIL,” Al Jazeera, April 6, 2015, http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/4/6/Fourth-Brooklyn-man-charged-plot-join-ISIL.html. Together they raised $1,600 for the two foreign fighters.“Fourth Brooklyn man charged in plot to join ISIL,” Al Jazeera, April 6, 2015, http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/4/6/Fourth-Brooklyn-man-charged-plot-join-ISIL.html. The U.S. Department of Justice believes that they raised these funds by “collecting…from multiple individuals.”“Fourth Brooklyn, New York, resident charged with attempt and conspiracy to provide material support to ISIL,” United States Department of Justice, April 6, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/fourth-brooklyn-new-york-resident-charged-attempt-and-conspiracy-provide-material-support.

To his ex-wife, Lakeisha Bailey, Habibov never appeared to be religious or display any extremist ideologies.Thomas Barrabi, “Alleged ISIS plotter Abror Habibov divorced wife Lakeisha Bailey before arrest on terrorism charges, report says,” International Business Times, February 27, 2015, http://www.ibtimes.com/alleged-isis-plotter-abror-habibov-divorced-wife-lakeisha-bailey-arrest-terrorism-1830560. According to the International Business Times, Bailey said that she “never knew him as a Muslim,” and speculates that he must have “[changed] over time.”Thomas Barrabi, “Alleged ISIS plotter Abror Habibov divorced wifei Lakeisha Bailey before arrest on terrorism charges, report says,” International Business Times, February 27, 2015, http://www.ibtimes.com/alleged-isis-plotter-abror-habibov-divorced-wife-lakeisha-bailey-arrest-terrorism-1830560. However, president of the Vantadosh Uzbek-American Federation Farhod Sulton described Habibov as “kind of lost” and as a “blind follower,” according to the New York Times.Marc Santora and Nate Schweber, “In Brooklyn, eager to join ISIS, if only his mother would return his passport,” New York Times, February 26, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/nyregion/isis-plot-brooklyn-men.html. Sulton recalled, “he was so eager to learn Islam…I remember warning him about his thoughts and… his understanding of Islamic principles.”Cris Barrish, Esteban Parra, and Jeff Montgomery, “FBI: mall kiosk owner financed Islamic State plot,” USA Today, February 27, 2015, http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/27/fbi-mall-kiosk-owner-financed-isis-plot/24107959/.

The 30-year-old moved to the United States legally in 2006, but remained in the country illegally after his visa expired.Marc Santora and Nate Schweber, “In Brooklyn, eager to join ISIS, if only his mother would return his passport,” New York Times, February 26, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/nyregion/isis-plot-brooklyn-men.html. He owns kiosks throughout the East Coast that sell kitchenware and repair cell phones.Catherine Shoichet, Ed Payne, and Ray Sanchez, “3 men try to join ISIS: here's what we know,” CNN, February 26, 2015, http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/26/us/new-york-terror-plot-suspects/.