A Dutch national who spent seven years fighting extradition proceedings in the Netherlands finally appeared before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to face charges of conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization.
Farhia Hassan, 38, allegedly was involved in a fundraising ring that provided financial support to the Somali terrorist group al-Shabaab.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a press release that Hassan was part of a group of women from around the world who were allegedly involved in funneling cash to al-Shabaab members through conduits in Nairobi, Kenya, and Hargeisa, Somalia. The money was then allegedly used to fund safe houses and purchase weapons and guns for the terrorist organization.
"Hassan, in particular, was allegedly involved in fundraising in the Netherlands under false pretenses by representing to donors that money was being collected to fund charitable ventures, such as schools for orphans, when it was in fact being funneled to terrorists," the DOJ said.
If convicted, Hassan could face up to 15 years in prison.
Muna Osman Jama, 41, of Reston, and Hinda Osman Dhirane, 51, of Kent, Washington, were previously charged and convicted in 2016 for their participation in the fundraising ring. Jama received 12 years in prison while Dhirane was sentenced to 11 year.
