Farhad Mohammad Jailed for Funding Nephew’s Terrorist Gun Purchase and Deadly Syria Fight

Hi and welcome to this Video Production News Court Report:

Man who Funded Nephew’s Terrorist Activities in Syria Convicted.

A comprehensive investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command has led to the conviction of Farhad Mohammad, a 45-year-old man who sent money to his nephew, Idris Usman, while he was engaged in combat for an Islamist terrorist group in Syria.

Detectives discovered that Mohammad facilitated the transfer of $350 in two installments to Usman. At the time, Usman was fighting for Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a terrorist organization banned in the UK.

During a ten-day trial at the Old Bailey in April 2024, evidence was presented showing that Mohammad arranged for the funds to be sent to Usman between November 2017 and January 2018, using a third-party intermediary.

Key evidence included messages recovered from Mohammad’s phone. One such message, sent by Usman in May 2017, stated: “Uncle forgive me, God willing I am going to participate in a fighting, either I will stay alive or I become a martyr, it is up to God.” Another message from June 2017 requested $650 to purchase a weapon, with Usman expressing his gratitude for Mohammad's support.

Additionally, a photograph of Usman on a motorbike with a gun over his shoulder was found among the communications.

Mohammad was apprehended on February 27, 2018, at London Stansted Airport as he prepared to travel to Turkey. Officers discovered over £4,000 in cash and three mobile phones in his possession, which were subsequently seized.

Commander Dominic Murphy, who heads the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, highlighted the gravity of Mohammad’s actions, stating: “Terrorist groups rely on financial support and funding to operate. While Mohammad’s contributions may not have been vast sums, he was well aware his nephew wanted the money to purchase a firearm and to help fund his fighting in Syria.

Groups like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham cause huge misery, terror, and devastation. If you knowingly fund someone - family member or not - who is part of a group like that, then it is helping a terrorist organisation and it is something we take extremely seriously.”

The meticulous work of the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit (NTFIU) was instrumental in tracing the transactions and establishing Mohammad's knowledge of his nephew's terrorist activities.

Farhad Mohammad was found guilty on April 26, 2024, of two counts of terrorist fundraising under Section 17 of the Terrorism Act 2000. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20, 2024.

This case underscores the critical role of counter-terrorism efforts in disrupting financial support for terrorist activities and highlights the importance of public vigilance and cooperation in reporting suspicious activities.

Well, that’s all for now. But until our next article, please stay tuned, stay informed, but most of all stay safe, and I’ll see you then.

Bénédict Tarot Freeman

Editor-at-Large

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