Ex-Jihadist linked to LeT camps in Pakistan appointed to Donald Trump’s White House advisory board

NEW DELHI: A former jihadist operative from the US who had allegedly attended proscribed terror outfit Lashker e Taiba’s coaching camp in Pakistan in 2000, helped different jihadists acquire entry to these camps and engaged in terrorist actions in Kashmir, together with firing at Indian positions, has been appointed by the Donald Trump regime to the White House Advisory Board of Lay Leaders.Ismail Royer and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, co-founder of Zaytuna Collegehave been listed regardless of their alleged affiliations with Islamic jihadists and proscribed terror teams together with LeT, al Qaeda and HAMAS, in accordance to US investigative journalist Lara Loomer. Royer, who was Rendell Royer until he transformed to Islam in 2000, was convicted by a US courtroom in 2004 and handed a 20-year jail sentence for terrorist actions that focused Americans — particularly, as a part of the Virginia jihadi community.He was investigated by the FBI and in 2003, indicted on terrorism-related expenses, together with conspiracy to levy battle towards the US and offering materials help toal-Qaeda and LeT. He pleaded responsible in 2004 to aiding and abetting the usage of firearms and explosives, receiving a 20-year sentence however serving solely 13 years, Loomer posted on X on Saturday. As per the White House assertion, Ismail Royer serves as Director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team for the Religious Freedom Institute. “Since converting to Islam in 1992, he has studied religious sciences with traditional Islamic scholars and spent over a decade working at non-profit Islamic organizations. Royer has worked with nonprofits to promote peace between faiths,” it states.Loomer claimed {that a} second appointee to the advisory board of Lay Leaders — described by the White House assertion as co-founder of Zaytuna College, the primary accredited Muslim liberal arts faculty in the United States, and an advisor to the Center for Islamic Studies at Berkeley’s Graduate Theological Union — additionally has a jihadi background.“I to inform you that Shaykh Hamza Yusuf @yusuf is also a Jihadi who has lied about the true definition of jihad and is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and HAMAS. Zaytuna College, which was co-founded by Hamza Yusuf @sh_hamzayusuf , teaches Sharia Law,” she posted.According to a DoJ assertion dated January 16, 2004, Royer and a co-accused Ibrahim Al-Hamdi pleaded responsible to weapons and explosives expenses stemming from the investigation right into a militant jihadist community in Northern Virginia that allegedly deliberate to practice at terrorist camps overseas. Royer, then 30, pleaded responsible to a two-count felony info, charging him with utilizing and discharging a firearm throughout and in relation to a criminal offense of violence, and with carrying an explosive throughout the fee of a felony. Royer was sentenced to 20 years in jail, however remained there for round 13 years.In his plea settlement, Royer admitted to aiding and abetting co-defendant Masoud Khan, Yong Ki Kwon, Muhammed Aatique, and Khwaja Mahmoud Hasan in gaining entry to a terrorist coaching camp in Pakistan operated by Lashkar-e-Taiba the place they educated in the usage of numerous weapons, together with semi-automatic pistols. Royer additionally admitted to serving to co-defendant Ibrahim Ahmed Al-Hamdi acquire entry to the Lashkar-e-Taiba camp, the place Al-Hamdi obtained coaching in the usage of a rocket-propelled grenade in furtherance of a conspiracy to conduct army operations towards India. Royer acknowledged that he dedicated his efforts to assist different jihadists acquire entry to the Lashkar-e-Taiba coaching camp following a gathering on Sept. 16, 2001, at which an unindicted conspirator stated that the terrorist assaults on Sept. 11, 2001, can be used as an excuse to set off a world battle towards Islam, and that the time had come for them to go overseas and, if doable, be a part of the mujahideen.According to Lara Loomer, Ismail Royer, born Randall Todd Royer, embraced Islam and have become concerned in Muslim advocacy, however his experiences preventing in the Bosnian War and fascinating with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Pakistan in 2000 marked a flip towards jihadi militancy. “His activities with LeT, a US-designated terrorist organization, included propaganda, firing at Indian positions in Kashmir, and possessing weapons, demonstrating a commitment to violent jihadist causes,” she posted.Post-9/11, Royer was a key determine in the “Virginia Jihad Network,” organizing paintball coaching and facilitating journey to LeT camps for weapons coaching, with some members aiming to help the Taliban towards US forces.Royer was launched from jail in 2017.