Overview

Abdullah Ramo Pazara is a naturalized U.S. citizen of Bosnian origin believed to be currently fighting for ISIS in Syria.Jack Date, Mike Levine, Pierre Thomas, “US Charges 6 Suspects With Aiding Terrorists,” ABC News, February 6, 2015, http://abcnews.go.com/US/suspects-charged-us-aiding-terrorists/story?id=28789888. Pazara left the United States in May 2013 and traveled to Zagreb, Bosnia and Herzegovina before entering Syria to join ISIS.Pete Wiliams, “Feds Charge 6 With Terrorism-Related Crimes Involving Links to ISIS,” NBC News, February 7, 2015, http://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/feds-charge-6-terrorism-related-crimes-involving-links-isis-n301961. In 2014, Pazara facilitated money transfers between individuals in the U.S. and jihadist organizations in Middle East via Western Union and Paypal.Samantha Masunaga, “6 Bosnian immigrants indicted in alleged overseas terror financing ring,” Los Angeles Times, February 8, 2015, http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-terror-arrest-20150208-story.html. NBC News quoted unnamed “authorities” in stating that Pazara may have been killed in 2014.Pete Wiliams, “Feds Charge 6 With Terrorism-Related Crimes Involving Links to ISIS,” NBC News, February 7, 2015, http://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/feds-charge-6-terrorism-related-crimes-involving-links-isis-n301961.

Pazara’s activities are well-documented in the indictment of six other Bosnian-Americans who were charged with providing material support to terrorists and one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists.Samantha Masunaga, “6 Bosnian immigrants indicted in alleged overseas terror financing ring,” Los Angeles Times, February 8, 2015, http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-terror-arrest-20150208-story.html. The support provided by the six consisted of sending money to foreign fighters such as Pazara in amounts ranging from $150 to $1,850. The six individuals are: Ramiz Zijad Hodzic, Sedina Unkic Hodzic, Medy Salkicevic, Jasminka Ramic, Armin Harcevic, and Nihad Rosic.Samantha Masunaga, “6 Bosnian immigrants indicted in alleged overseas terror financing ring,” Los Angeles Times, February 8, 2015, http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-terror-arrest-20150208-story.html. The group communicated via social media, including Facebook.Jason Keyser, “6 Bosnian Immigrants Indicted For Using Facebook, PayPal To Facilitate Extremists In Syria,” Huffington Post, February 7, 2015, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/07/bosnian-six-indictment_n_6637674.html.

Ramiz Hodzic also sent Pazara “U.S. military uniforms, tactical clothes and gear, combat boots, military surplus supplies and other items from businesses in St. Louis” in August 2013 via the U.S. Postal Service. The three boxes of items were first sent to Istanbul, Turkey, and later distributed to foreign fighters including Pazara in Iraq and Syria.Samantha Masunaga, “6 Bosnian immigrants indicted in alleged overseas terror financing ring,” Los Angeles Times, February 8, 2015, http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-terror-arrest-20150208-story.html.