A 46-year-old man who sent money to his nephew who was fighting for a banned terror group in Syria has avoided a jail sentence.
Farhad Mohammad, of Colchester, Essex, sent $350 (£270) in two payments via a third party to his nephew Idris Usman who was fighting in Syria at the time for banned terror group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
Usman wanted the cash in order to buy a weapon.
On Wednesday, Mohammad was sentenced to a three year community order, 250 hours unpaid work, three month curfew between 9pm and 8am and a 30 day Rehabilitation Supervision Order at the Old Bailey.
The court heard how Mohammad made the payments over three months between November 2017 and January 2018 despite knowing of his nephew’s terrorist activities.
One of the messages found by counterterror police on Mohammad’s phone from his nephew in May 2017 read: “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 in June 2017 read: “Uncle for the sake of God send me six and a half waraqa ($650), to buy a weapon, it is the one, which I like it, and may God reward you with good.”
A third sent in August 2017 showed Usman sat on a motorbike with a gun over his shoulder.
Met Counterterror Commander Dominic Murphy said: “Terrorist groups rely on financial support and funding to be able 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.”
Mohammad was caught as he attempted to board a flight from Stansted to Turkey on February 27, 2018.
Detectives found he had over £4,000 of cash, and three mobile phones with incriminating messages and voice notes.
“Anyone who might be considering providing financial support to terrorists or terrorist organisations should think twice, as it is a serious offence and, as we’ve shown here, we will investigate those who are involved in this kind of activity,” said Commander Murphy.
He was found guilty in April 2024 of two counts of terrorist fundraising after a trial at the Old Bailey.
But he was cleared on two other counts of terrorist fundraising – linked to alleged payments made in May and August 2017.
The jury was unable to reach a verdict in respect of a fifth count of terrorist fundraising, relating to an alleged payment made in October 2017, which will lie on file.
The sentencing guidelines for funding terrorism stretch between a high level community order and 13 years’ custody.
