Overview
Ibrahim Zubair Mohammad is a suspected terrorist financier and facilitator originally from India. He allegedly co-conspired with older brother Yahya Farooq Mohammad—and brothers Asif Ahmed Salim and Sultane Room Salim—to provide material support to now-deceased AQAP leader Anwar al-Awlaki.“United States of America v. Yahya Farooq Mohammad, Ibrahim Zubair Mohammad, Asif Ahmed Salim, and Sultane Roome Salim,” United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, September 30, 2015, 12, http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/790971/download. The FBI trailed Zubair Mohammad and his brother Yahya Farooq Mohammad for “a length of time,” according to an Indian official. Both men are alleged to have discussed plots to conduct terrorist attacks in India.Praveen Swami, “2 NRI brothers indicted in US for funding al-Qaeda, had discussed attacks in India,” Indian Express, November 7, 2015, http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/two-indian-brothers-indicted-in-us-for-providing-support-to-al-qaeda-leader/.
The four men were charged with conspiracy to provide and conceal material support and resources to a terrorist group, specifically in support of Anwar al-Awlaki for furtherance of violent jihad against the United States. The group exchanged email correspondence citing jihadist propaganda over several years. All are accused of providing “property and services, including currency and monetary instruments, tangible property, services, and expert advice and assistance” with the knowledge that they would be used for terrorist acts against U.S. citizens and military personnel.“United States of America v. Yahya Farooq Mohammad, Ibrahim Zubair Mohammad, Asif Ahmed Salim, and Sultane Roome Salim,” United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, September 30, 2015, 12, http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/790971/download.
Mohammad became a U.S. permanent resident after marrying a U.S. citizen of Indian origin in 2006.“United States of America v. Yahya Farooq Mohammad, Ibrahim Zubair Mohammad, Asif Ahmed Salim, and Sultane Roome Salim,” United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, September 30, 2015, 12, http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/790971/download.
On April 11, 2018, Mohammad pleaded guilty in federal court to concealing the financing of terrorism. The plea bargain stipulated 60 months in prison, which includes the 30 months he spent imprisoned awaiting trial.Jennifer Feehan, “Former Toledo Man Pleads Guilty in Terror Case,” Toledo Blade, April 12, 2018, https://www.toledoblade.com/Courts/2018/04/11/Former-Toledo-man-pleads-guilty-in-terror-case.html. After completing his sentence in May 2020, Mohammad was deported to India.Shishir Gupta, “Telangana Engineer Convicted in US for Raising Money for Al Qaeda Leader Deported,” Hindustan Times, May 21, 2020, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/telangana-engineer-convicted-in-us-for-raising-money-for-al-qaeda-leader-deported/story-kuECuqzL9XuyauXBj5kwCJ.html.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- AQAP
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Insurgent, non-state actor, religious, terrorist, transnational, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Al-Qaeda affiliated group, Islamist, jihadist, Qutbist, Salafist, Sunni, takfiri
- Position(s):
- Financier, facilitator
AQAP is the union of al-Qaeda’s affiliated branches in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. AQAP has claimed responsibility for terror attacks and plots worldwide, including the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris.
History
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
In Their Own Words:
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].
Mar. 2023