Overview
Mehida Salkicevic is a Bosnian immigrant to the United States who became a naturalized U.S. citizen. She was arrested and charged with providing material support to ISIS. Salkicevic, a mother of four, is accused of soliciting funds and sending money to ISIS fighters in Syria and Iraq.“Rockford Suspect in Terror Funding Case Arrested in Germany,” WIFR, February 11, 2015, http://www.wifr.com/home/headlines/Rockford-Resident-Charged-with-Conspiring-to-Support-Terrorists-291123351.html. She pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization in March 2019,“Illinois Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Terrorists,” U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of Missouri, March 21, 2019, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/illinois-woman-pleads-guilty-conspiring-provide-material-support-terrorists. and was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison.“Illinois Woman Sentenced for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Terrorists,” U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of Missouri, June 18, 2019, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/illinois-woman-sentenced-conspiring-provide-material-support-terrorists. She was released from prison in August 2020.“MEDIHA MEDY SALKICEVIC,” Find an Inmate – Federal Bureau of Prisons, accessed April 15, 2021, https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/.
According to the indictment, Salkicevic and five other Bosnian immigrants allegedly plotted over Facebook, email, and phone to support foreign fights in Syria. They allegedly sent money through PayPal and Western Union, and shipped military equipment through the U.S. Postal Service.Michael Tarm, “Illinois woman accused of aiding extremists appears in court,” Associated Press, February 9, 2015, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/3341e34753a6496586b6d4c5b50b616b/illinois-woman-accused-aiding-extremists-appears-court.
Salkicevic worked as a cargo handler at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Prosecutors warned that Salkicevic, whose mother and three sisters still live in Bosnia, is a flight risk.Michael Tarm, “Illinois woman accused of aiding extremists appears in court,” Associated Press, February 9, 2015, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/3341e34753a6496586b6d4c5b50b616b/illinois-woman-accused-aiding-extremists-appears-court.
On March 21, 2019, Salkicevic pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support to ISIS,“Illinois Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Terrorists,” U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of Missouri, March 21, 2019, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/illinois-woman-pleads-guilty-conspiring-provide-material-support-terrorists. and on June 8, 2019, she was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison.“Illinois Woman Sentenced for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Terrorists,” U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of Missouri, June 18, 2019, https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/illinois-woman-sentenced-conspiring-provide-material-support-terrorists. Salkicevic was released on August 21, 2020.“MEDIHA MEDY SALKICEVIC,” Find an Inmate – Federal Bureau of Prisons, accessed April 15, 2021, https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- ISIS
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Insurgent, territory-controlling, religious, terrorist, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Salafist, takfiri
- Position(s):
- U.S.-based financier and facilitator
ISIS is a violent jihadist group based in Iraq and Syria. The group has declared wilayas (provinces) in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the North Caucasus. ISIS has also waged attacks in Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kuwait.