The United States government has recently imposed sanctions on two Egyptian IT experts for their involvement in providing cybersecurity support and training to the terrorist organization ISIS. This move underscores the ongoing efforts to combat terrorist activities and disrupt their online presence.
The individuals targeted by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) include Mu’min Al-Mawji Mahmud Salim (Mu’min Al-Mawji), who is the mastermind behind the ISIS-affiliated platform Electronic Horizons Foundation (EHF). The EHF has been instrumental in offering cybersecurity guidance and training to ISIS supporters, enabling them to evade detection by law enforcement agencies.
Mu’min Al-Mawji has also been actively involved in providing technical support to ISIS leadership on various computer applications, as well as imparting cryptocurrency expertise to the group’s followers. Notably, he posted a tutorial on the EHF website detailing how to donate funds to ISIS-affiliated entities. Additionally, he established a media outlet to disseminate ISIS propaganda advocating violence against Western nations.
Another individual, Sarah Jamal Muhammad Al-Sayyid (Sarah Jamal), has also been sanctioned for her role in assisting Mu’min Al-Mawji in providing cybersecurity support to ISIS. Her activities included recruiting new members for EHF and procuring web servers to host ISIS platforms.
In a related development, Turkish national Faruk Guzel has been sanctioned for distributing funds to individuals affiliated with ISIS. These sanctions aim to block any assets owned by the individuals in the US or under the control of US persons, and prohibit any transactions with them.
The US government’s actions reflect its commitment to the Counter ISIS Finance Group (CIFG), a coalition of over 80 countries and international organizations dedicated to combating ISIS and its support networks. Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson for the US Department of State, emphasized the importance of targeting ISIS’s facilitation activities online, including the use of virtual currency and recruitment efforts.
In recent years, Western governments have increasingly utilized economic sanctions as a tool to address malicious cyber activities. In a joint effort in September 2023, the US and UK imposed sanctions on 11 individuals associated with the Trickbot malware and Conti ransomware groups. Similarly, in January 2024, Australia sanctioned a Russian national linked to the 2022 Medibank data breach.
These cyber sanctions serve as a deterrent to individuals engaged in malicious cyber activities, especially when traditional law enforcement measures may be limited. By imposing sanctions on those supporting terrorist organizations like ISIS, governments are sending a clear message that there will be consequences for those involved in illicit cyber activities.