New Delhi: The United States Department of State has designated alleged ISIS member Siddhartha Dhar, an Indian origin British citizen as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). In a statement released on Wednesday, the US said that Dhar’s property and interests under US jurisidiction were blocked.
Who is Siddhartha Dhar?
Dhar, born to Hindu parents in London, converted to Islam to marry his wife, Aisha. He went on to become a campaigner for Sharia laws in the UK.
Dhar was arrested in 2014 for his association with Al Muhajiroun, a now defunct organisation. He was released on bail after which he fled the country defying a travel ban. He is believed to have fled with his wife and kids.
Soon after his escape, he put up a picture of himself holding an AK-47 and his newborn child, mocking the UK for having a security system that allowed to make his way out to Syria. He has been on the radar ever since and is believed to have replaced Mohammad Emwazi, the ISIS executioner. Emwazi is known as ‘Jihadi John’.
Dhar, or Jihadi Sid as he is known now, is believed to be the masked man in the gruesome ISIS video dating back to 2016 which showed the execution of several prisoners that the terror outfit accused of spying for the UK.
What Does Being SDGT Mean?
The US designates terrorists under its Executive Order (EO) 13224. SDGTs fall under Section 1(b) of the same order. The EO imposes sanctions and restrictions on foreign people who have been determined to have committed or pose grave risk of committing acts of terrorism threatening US national security. It also includes denying the designated terrorists access to the US financial system.
Along with Dhar, the State Department also designated Abdelatif Gaini, a Belgian-Morrocan citizen believed to be fighting for ISIS in the Middle East.
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