The State Security Service (SSS) of Uzbekistan, in cooperation with internal affairs agencies, has detained a group of individuals who allegedly transferred money to a terrorist organization in Syria, according to an official statement.

Eight citizens aged 28 to 39, residing in Tashkent city and the regions of Samarkand, Bukhara, Andijan, and Fergana, are accused of transferring funds to accounts belonging to Abdulmuhsin Usmanov, a Kyrgyz national and media blogger for the terrorist group “G‘uroba katibasi” in Syria, allegedly under his ideological and psychological influence.

Usmanov, also known by the pseudonym Saad Mukhtar, is wanted internationally by Kyrgyzstan for terrorism-related crimes. He reportedly used Telegram to solicit donations under the guise of helping Muslims allegedly suffering in Palestine.

The collected funds were purportedly not used for the needy in the Gaza Strip but instead for food, clothing, and weapons for militants in Syria.

One of the accused stated: “When we watched a video on YouTube, there was an account number left under it. They said if you send money, we will help children. So I transferred money.” Another accused said: “My parents sacrificed to educate me at the institute, I built a career, they got me a good job and a home. Just when I thought I could enjoy my child, I gave in to emotion, trusted without checking, and deeply disappointed my parents.”

Under the court verdict, those found guilty of this crime face up to 15 years of imprisonment under Article 155-3 of the Criminal Code, which criminalizes the financing of terrorism.

The SSS has urged citizens not to trust suspicious charity appeals on social media and to remain vigilant.

Source: www.gazeta.uz