A Bangladeshi couple was sentenced in the United States for providing support to the Islamic State, a banned foreign terrorist group in the US. The couple, both residents of Pennsylvania, had provided cash to their two relatives who had joined ISIS in Syria. 

The convicted couple -- Shahidul Gaffar, 40, and Nabila Khan, 35-- were sentenced to 18 months and two years in prison, respectively, by United States District Court Judge Joshua D. Wolson in the case investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  

According to court documents, as reported by ANI news, the husband and wife in 2015 provided and attempted to provide financial support to two brothers who later traveled to Syria to join ISIS fighters.

"The defendants encouraged and financially supported the efforts of Nabila Kahn's brothers to join the murderous terrorist group ISIS, which is a direct threat to the United States. The public can rest assured that our office is working tirelessly every day to protect all Americans from the threat of terrorism," said Acting United States Attorney Williams.

The prosecutor also pointed out several international transactions between the couple and one of the brothers, IK, who had been residing in Bangladesh at the time. IK, they claimed, was an observer and follower of Anwar al-Awlaki, a designated global terrorist who is now deceased. 

In 2015, he traveled to Syria and later died there in 2019.

(SAM)