February 1, 2024 at 09:55AM
The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned three individuals linked to ISIS. Egyptian nationals Mu’min Al-Mawji Mahmud Salim and Sarah Al-Sayyid established the Electronic Horizons Foundation, providing cybersecurity training for ISIS. Faruk Guzel from Turkey facilitated money transfers for the group. Sanctions aim to impede ISIS’s online activities, though they may adapt over time.
Based on the meeting notes, the key takeaways are:
1. The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned three individuals associated with ISIS – Mu’min Al-Mawji Mahmud Salim, Sarah Jamal Muhammad Al-Sayyid, and Faruk Guzel.
2. Mu’min Al-Mawji founded an ISIS-affiliated media outlet, provided IT support to ISIS leadership, and offered expertise in cryptocurrencies. He also established the Electronic Horizons Foundation (EHF) to provide cybersecurity guidance and training for ISIS members.
3. Sarah Jamal Muhammad Al-Sayyid collaborated with Al-Mawji on EHF’s cryptocurrency and logistical management efforts, recruited ISIS members for EHF, and solicited Web servers for hosting ISIS platforms.
4. Faruk Guzel from Turkey appears to have facilitated money transfers for ISIS, receiving remittances from supporters and passing them on to members in Syria.
5. Sanctions imposed by OFAC and other governments are effective in slowing down ISIS’s online activities, but the group may continue to find new avenues for their operations.
These takeaways provide a clear summary of the individuals sanctioned and the impact of the sanctions on ISIS’s online activities.