WASHINGTON D.C.
Two women — Muna Osman Jama, 36, of Reston, Virginia, and Hinda Osman Dhirane, 46, of Kent, Washington — were sentenced Friday to 12 years and 11 years respectively.
Jama and Dhirane were found guilty of conspiracy to support to al-Shabaab, a foreign terrorist organization, and providing support to a foreign terrorist organization. after a bench trial in front of U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga on Oct. 25, 2016.
The verdicts came after a bench trial in federal court. front of U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga on Oct. 25, 2016.
front of U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga on Oct. 25, 2016.
The defendants also organized what was called a “Group of Fifteen,” which included women from Somalia, Kenya, Egypt, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Canada, as well as Minneapolis, Minnesota, according to authorities.
The “Group of Fifteen” met regularly in a private chatroom that Jama established to organize and track monthly payment of money to the “Hargeisa side,” which was used to finance al-Shabaab military operations in the Golis Mountains in northern Somalia, and the “Nairobi side,” which was used to fund two al-Shabaab safehouses.
One of the safehouses was used by al-Shabaab to store weapons and to prepare for attacks. The other was used to treat al-Shabaab fighters who had been wounded in battle, according to officials≥
A substantial part of the government’s case consisted of recorded telephone calls and other communications among the “Group of Fifteen.”
These recordings demonstrated that the women had close connections with al-Shabaab leadership and were privy to non-public, inside information concerning al-Shabaab activities.
Jama and Dhirane were recorded as they laughed as the carnage at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi was still taking place.
Dhirane and co-conspirator were also recorded as they laughed at the Boston Marathon Bombing before it became known who committed the attack, according to officials.