NYC: FBI arrest of a Tajikistan national reveals Turkey’s role as a logistical hub for ISIS-K

Image: Jihad Watch

The recent arrest of a 33-year-old Tajik national in the United States by federal authorities has highlighted Turkey’s significant role as a crucial channel for financial and logistical operations tied to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and its affiliate, ISIS-Khorasan Province (ISIS-K).

On February 26, Mansuri Manuchekhri was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through its Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York, which involves personnel from the FBI, the New York Police Department, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies. Manuchekhri faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS-K, illegal possession of firearms, and immigration fraud.

Court documents filed in the Eastern District of New York reveal that Manuchekhri entered the US on a tourist visa in June 2016 but overstayed after it expired in December of the same year. Between December 2021 and June 2023, he allegedly conspired with individuals in Turkey to provide financial and logistical aid to ISIS and ISIS-K, both of which are recognized as foreign terrorist organizations by the US government.

Evidence gathered by federal authorities shows that Manuchekhri communicated directly with ISIS operatives in Turkey, sending funds to support their activities.

Despite efforts by the Erdogan government to deflect scrutiny, growing evidence — including the recently unsealed US federal complaint — confirms that ISIS and ISIS-K have been using Turkey as a logistics hub for their operations. These findings further support long-standing allegations of Turkish authorities’ inaction and complicity in allowing ISIS-linked networks to thrive within the country.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)