This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/6996

Ali Shukri Amin Muslim Teen From Virginia Pleads Guilty To Using Social Media To Aid ISIS

June 11, 2015

American Teen Pleads Guilty of Online ISIS Recruiting
17-year-old from Virginia told people online how to hide donations to ISIS with virtual Bitcoin, and sneak in to Syria to join the jihad. Arutz Sheva Staff

A tech-savvy US teen pleaded guilty Thursday to using social media to aid the Islamic State (ISIS) group, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison, the Justice Department said.

Ali Shukri Amin, 17, a resident of Virginia, admitted to providing advice and encouragement to ISIS and its supporters, US prosecutors said, according to AFP.

Under the Twitter handle @Amreekiwitness, the youth provided ISIS supporters instruction on using the virtual currency Bitcoin to conceal financial donations to the radical Islamist terror group.

The teenager also offered guidance to ISIS supporters seeking to travel to Syria to fight with the radical Islamist group.

"Around the nation, we are seeing ISIL use social media to reach out from the other side of the world," said John Carlin, US Assistant Attorney for National Security, using the acronym most frequently employed by Washington officials when referring to ISIS.

"Their messages are reaching America in an attempt to radicalize, recruit and incite our youth and others to support ISIL's violent causes," he said.

The Justice Department said Amin also facilitated travel for another young ISIS recruit, Reza Niknejad, 18, who traveled to Syria to join the group in January.

Niknejad was charged Wednesday in federal court in Virginia with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and conspiring to kill and injure people abroad.

Carlin issued a warning to parents to closely monitor their kids' online interactions.

"This case serves as a wake-up call that ISIL's propaganda and recruitment materials are in your communities and being viewed by your youth," the federal prosecutor said.

"This challenge requires parental and community awareness and action to confront and deter this threat wherever it surfaces," he said.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/196623

This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/6996