Widow of ISIS Leader Charged in Death of U.S. Hostage Kayla Mueller

The widow of a senior ISIS leader, Umm Sayyaf, has been charged by U.S. authorities for her role in the death of American hostage Kayla Mueller. Sayyaf admitted to holding Mueller and other female captives in her home in Syria, where Mueller was sexually abused by ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. While in captivity in the Sayyaf home, Mueller and the other women were confined and controlled in the house. Mueller was confirmed dead in February 2015 after being held by ISIS since 2013. Sayyaf faces life in prison if convicted and is currently being held in Iraq.

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Widow of ISIS Leader Charged in Death of U.S. Hostage Kayla Mueller

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Bruno Silva

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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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09/02/2016

WidowofISISleaderchargedindeathofU.S.hostageCNN.com

U.S. +

Widow of ISIS leader charged in death of U.S.

hostage Kayla Mueller
By Karen Smith, CNN
Updated 0309 GMT (1109 HKT) February 9, 2016 | Video
Source: CNN

Story highlights
Umm Sayyaf, wife of ISIS leader, charged with
role in Kayla Mueller's death
Sayaff admitted to forcibly holding female
captives with husband in Syria
Captured in 2013, American Kayla Mueller was
reported killed last year

(CNN)The widow of a key ISIS leader has been

charged as part of a conspiracy that resulted in the
death of American hostage Kayla Mueller in February
2015, the U.S. Justice Department said Monday.
Umm Sayyaf, also known as Nasrin As'ad Ibrahim, was
captured by U.S. forces in a raid in Deir Ezzor, Syria, in
May. She was married to Abu Sayyaf, a senior ISIS
operative, who was killed in the same raid in eastern
Syria in 2015.
Sayyaf, 25, was charged in federal court on Monday
with "conspiring to provide material support to a
designated foreign terrorist organization resulting in
death," the Justice Department announced.

Umm and Abu Sayyaf forcibly held Mueller and other

female captives in several of their residences after the
American was captured in northern Syria in 2013,
according to the indictment. While held in the
Sayyaf's home, Mueller and other female captives
were at "various times handcuffed, held in locked
rooms, and given orders on a daily basis with respect
to their activities, movements, and liberty," the
criminal complaint said.
Sayyaf was aware of how Mueller was sexually
abused by ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi while
she was in captivity inside the Sayyafs' home, the
Justice Department documents say. U.S.
government officials and Mueller's family had been
previously aware of Baghdadi's treatment of Mueller
while in captivity. According to the documents
released Monday, Sayaff admitted Baghdadi "owned"

Mueller during her captivity at the Sayyaf residence.

Mueller was killed in February 2015. At the time, ISIS said she was killed by a coalition strike. The United
States confirmed her death but denied it was by a coalition strike.
"We will continue to work alongside the FBI to
investigate this case and remain steadfast in our
pursuit of justice for the Mueller family," Dana J.
Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of
Virginia, said.
Sayyaf is being held in Iraq. She was transferred in
August 2015 by the United States to Kurdish
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WidowofISISleaderchargedindeathofU.S.hostageCNN.com

authorities to stand trial.

"We fully support the Iraqi prosecution of Sayyaf and
will continue to work with the authorities there to
pursue our shared goal of holding Sayyaf
accountable for her crimes. At the same time, these
charges reflect that the U.S. justice system remains a
powerful tool to bring to bear against those who
harm our citizens abroad," said Assistant Attorney
General John Carlin in a statement Monday.