PORTLAND, Ore. — A 31-year-old Troutdale man has been arrested on charges that he assisted and provided propaganda for ISIS, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon announced Thursday.
According to federal prosecutors, Hawazen Sameer Mothafar has conspired with ISIS since February 2015 to provide material support for the terrorist organization. He produced and distributed propaganda and recruiting materials that he created in coordination with official ISIS operatives overseas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. That propaganda encouraged people to carry out attacks in their home countries if they could not travel overseas, prosecutors said.
Mothafar, who is a legal permanent U.S. resident, is also alleged to have maintained contact with ISIS officials overseas and provided technical support that included opening social media and email accounts.
"The threat of ISIS-inspired terrorism remains very real thanks, in part, to an army of online supporters who produce propaganda that aims to incite 'lone actor' operators in the U.S. and around the world,” said Renn Cannon, special agent in charge of the FBI in Oregon. “Today, the FBI arrested one such man in our own community for his alleged role as a leading figure in the Islamic State's media network.”
Mothafar is also accused of producing, editing and distributing a number of articles including “Effective stabbing techniques,” which provided detailed guidance on how to best injure or kill someone in a knife attack. He also produced a tutorial titled “How does a detonator work,” prosecutors said.
Mothafar made his first court appearance Thursday on the charges, which include two counts of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization and one count of providing and attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. He was released following the appearance on conditions that included limitations on travel and the use of electronic devices. The government said it did not seek detention because Mothafar has physical disabilities and is confined to a wheelchair.