Abdel Hameed Shehadeh

Abdel Hameed Shehadeh is an American citizen of Palestinian descent convicted of lying to the FBI in a terrorism investigation.“Staten Island Man Convicted Of Making False Statements In A Matter Involving International Terrorism,” U.S. Department of Justice, March 25, 2013, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/staten-island-man-convicted-making-false-statements-matter-involving-international;
Mosi Secret, “Staten Island Man Is Convicted of Lying About Plans to Join Terrorists,” New York Times, March 25, 2013, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/26/nyregion/staten-island-man-convicted-of-lying-about-plans-to-join-terrorists.html.
In June 2008, he was denied entry into Pakistan after flying there from the United States in order to join a jihadist group. Shehadeh later attempted to join the U.S. Army so that he could travel to Iraq and join the anti-U.S. jihad, according to U.S. authorities. Shehadeh told the FBI in various subsequent interviews that he wanted to fight alongside foreign jihadist groups. He received a 13-year prison sentence in September 2013.“Staten Island Man Sentenced To 13 Years In Prison For Making False Statements In A Matter Involving International Terrorism,” U.S. Department of Justice, September 20, 2013, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/staten-island-man-sentenced-13-years-prison-making-false-statements-matter-involving.

Starting in 2008, Shehadeh maintained personal websites that glorified violent jihad as well as top al-Qaeda leaders, including Osama bin Laden and the late American-born al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.Mosi Secret, “Staten Island Man Is Convicted of Lying About Plans to Join Terrorists,” New York Times, March 25, 2013, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/26/nyregion/staten-island-man-convicted-of-lying-about-plans-to-join-terrorists.html. According to the FBI, Shehadeh’s now-defunct jihad-themed websites included www.sunnah101.com, www.civiljihad.com, and www.mymakkah.com.“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 5. Civiljihad.com reportedly linked to Awlaki’s online lectures and blogs, as well as a directory of “Jihad magazines.” According to a member of the New York Police Department, the site featured an image of a man holding a sign that read “JIHAD IS OUR WAY.”“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 10. Shehadeh’s mymakkah.com site also featured a “jihad” section featuring a speech by al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and audio recording of Awlaki.“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 6-7. Shehadeh also maintained a YouTube account under the name “Sunna101.” Shehadeh used the account to post jihadist videos, including one titled “Benefits of Jihad in Our Times.”“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 5.

In June 2008, Shehadeh attempted to travel to Pakistan, but was barred by Pakistani authorities and sent back to the United States.“Staten Island Man Convicted Of Making False Statements In A Matter Involving International Terrorism,” U.S. Department of Justice, March 25, 2013, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/staten-island-man-convicted-making-false-statements-matter-involving-international. According to U.S. officials, Shehadeh intended to join the Taliban or a similar group in Pakistan.“Hawaii Resident Charged with Making False Statements in a Matter Involving International Terrorism,” U.S. Department of Justice, October 26, 2010. Upon his return to the United States, Shehadeh attempted to enlist in the U.S. Army at a recruiting station in New York City. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Shehadeh intended to “deploy overseas, where he would commit treason by defecting and fighting alongside insurgent forces.” The Army denied Shehadeh’s application upon discovering that he had concealed his trip to Pakistan during the recruitment process.“Staten Island Man Convicted Of Making False Statements In A Matter Involving International Terrorism,” U.S. Department of Justice, March 25, 2013, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/staten-island-man-convicted-making-false-statements-matter-involving-international.

Shehadeh flew to Jordan in October 2008, but was denied entry at the airport in Amman. Upon his return to the United States, authorities discovered that Shehadeh had torn out the page of his passport containing the Pakistani visa stamp. Authorities also questioned Shehadeh on his jihadist-themed websites. Shehadeh confirmed that his civiljihad.com website was designed to “mirror and reformat” Awlaki’s teachings, according to the FBI. He also said that he had written to Awlaki several times without a response.“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 9.

Shehadeh belonged to the New York-based group Revolution Muslim, led by Jesse Morton, a.k.a. Younus Abdullah Muhammad. The group’s members advocated the creation of an Islamic state based on sharia (Islamic law). Morton pled guilty in February 2012 to conspiring to solicit murder and using the Internet “to place others in fear.”“Leader of Revolution Muslim Pleads Guilty to Using Internet to Solicit Murder and Encourage Violent Extremism,” FBI, February 9, 2012, https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/washingtondc/press-releases/2012/leader-of-revolution-muslim-pleads-guilty-to-using-internet-to-solicit-murder-and-encourage-violent-extremism. He also admitted to encouraging violence against the writers of the television show South Park because they had featured the Islamic prophet Muhammad in a bear suit, and planned to depict him in a future episode. Morton admitted to authorities that he had communicated with AQAP propagandist Samir Khan, who was killed alongside Awlaki in 2011. Shehadeh purportedly regularly attended Revolution Muslim meetings and linked to Revolution Muslim’s website on civiljihad.com.Jason Ryan, Pierre, Thomas, and Richard Esposito, “New York Man Guilty in ‘South Park’ Murder Threat,” ABC News, February 9, 2012, http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/york-man-guilty-south-park-murder-threat/story?id=15548422;
“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 7.

FBI and NYPD officers met with three witnesses while investigating Shehadeh between 2008 and 2009. According to one witness, Shehadeh believed that American Muslims had a duty to travel to Muslim nations “at war” in order to fight alongside those Muslims. Another witness claimed that Shehadeh had expressed interest in traveling to Pakistan to wage jihad, and that he had attempted to join the Army in order to go to Iraq to fight in the jihad there.“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 11-12. A third witness told the FBI that Shehadeh had tried to convince him to go to Yemen to learn Arabic “on the battlefield.”“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 14-15.

Shehadeh traveled to Hawaii in April 2009 with the intent of traveling to Somalia via Dubai, United Arab Emirates.“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 13-14. In June 2009, the day before he was scheduled to fly to Dubai, the FBI warned Shehadeh that he had been placed on the no-fly list.“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 14. When Shehadeh tried to convince the FBI to remove him from the list in February 2010, FBI agents led him to believe that the FBI was using him as an informant.“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 15. In interviews with the FBI over the proceeding months, Shehadeh described how his own radicalization mirrored that of other young Muslim Americans who desired to exact revenge on—or in his words, “get back” at—the United States. He also said that if he had been allowed into Pakistan he would have traveled to the north because he wanted “to see the different jihadist groups, including the Taliban,” according to the criminal complaint filed against him.“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 15-16.

Shehadeh was arrested in Honolulu, Hawaii, on October 22, 2010.“Leader of Revolution Muslim Pleads Guilty to Using Internet to Solicit Murder and Encourage Violent Extremism,” FBI, February 9, 2012, https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/washingtondc/press-releases/2012/leader-of-revolution-muslim-pleads-guilty-to-using-internet-to-solicit-murder-and-encourage-violent-extremism;
“Hawaii Resident Charged with Making False Statements in a Matter Involving International Terrorism,” U.S. Department of Justice, October 26, 2010.
In March 2013, he was convicted of making false statements in a matter of international terrorism.“Staten Island Man Convicted Of Making False Statements In A Matter Involving International Terrorism,” U.S. Department of Justice, March 25, 2013, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/staten-island-man-convicted-making-false-statements-matter-involving-international. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison that September.“Staten Island Man Sentenced To 13 Years In Prison For Making False Statements In A Matter Involving International Terrorism,” U.S. Department of Justice, September 20, 2013, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/staten-island-man-sentenced-13-years-prison-making-false-statements-matter-involving.

According to then-U.S. attorney Loretta Lynch, “Time and again, Shehadeh sought to travel overseas to wage violent jihad against U.S. military forces, going so far as to attempt to infiltrate the U.S. Army. When confronted with his attempts to join a terrorist group and kill American soldiers, he repeatedly lied about his actions and his intentions.”“Staten Island Man Convicted Of Making False Statements In A Matter Involving International Terrorism,” U.S. Department of Justice, March 25, 2013, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/staten-island-man-convicted-making-false-statements-matter-involving-international.

In late April 2020, Shehadeh wrote to a federal judge in Brooklyn, New York, saying “I was a naive, gullible 18-year-old at the time of my indicted actions,” and asked to be released from prison in order to avoid contracting COVID-19. His request was denied.Noah Goldberg, “Staten Island man convicted of lying to feds about jihad plans wants to get out of prison to avoid coronavirus,” NY Daily News, May 8, 2020, https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-staten-island-man-prison-terrorism-release-20200508-iz3nph2gqnaizbpneiwn3jg2tm-story.html.

Also Known As
  • Abu Baheera“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 1.
  • Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 1.
  • Abul-Qassim“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 1.
  • Sunnah10“United States of America v. Abdel Hameed Shehadeh, also known as ‘Abdul-Qasim,’ ‘Abul-Qasim Ibn Abu Muhammad,’ ‘Sunnah10’ and ‘Abu Baheera,’ Defendant,” U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, October 21, 2010, 1.

Extremist entity
Unaffiliated
Type(s) of Organization:
Not applicable.
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Not applicable.
Position(s):
Attempted foreign fighter

  • Rhetoric
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We reiterate once again that the brigades will directly target US bases across the region in case the US enemy commits a folly and decides to strike our resistance fighters and their camps [in Iraq].

Abu Ali al-Askari, Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH) Security Official Mar. 2023
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