Egyptian tax collector steals $53m from Islamic State group
Egyptian tax collector steals $53m from Islamic State group
Analysis: IS finances are thought to have taken a hit after a senior member reportedly stole money and fled.
2 min read
The Egyptian was a tax collector in the Syrian city of Raqqa [Getty]
Hassan Mohammad, a senior member of the Islamic State group (IS, formerly Isis), stole around $53 million of the group's looted cash before fleeing, according to local sources in Syria.
His location remains unknown.
Mohammad, also known as Abu Ubaidah al-Masri, was in charge of collecting "religious alms" and "taxes" in the Syrian cities of Raqqa, Deir Ezzor and al-Bukamal. The Egyptian had been a member of the group for two years according to the sources.
A court set up by the IS group has reportedly ordered Mohammad to be executed in public - but efforts to locate him have failed.
Alms and taxes are an important revenue stream for IS, especially after the recent drop in oil prices. The group is understood to have set an operating budget of $2 billion for 2015, with a surplus of $250 million.
Local sources close to IS told al-Araby al-Jadeed Mohammad had travelled to Syria two years ago with other Arab militants after working in the Gulf on a temporary contract. He was an administrator in the group, not a fighter.
Mohammad is understood to have transferred the money through local exchange bureaus. He then changed his look from the traditional Afghan style common among many jihadists to a more modern cut before escaping.
Egyptians have celebrated the actions of their countryman on social media, saying it was an important blow to IS.
"The only thing left is for an Egyptian to steal IS' shoes while they perform Friday prayers," tweeted one Egyptian.
Not all Twitterers agreed: "The Abu Ubaidah you're celebrating is not only an IS terrorist also a thief. Why are you so happy?"
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
His location remains unknown.
Mohammad, also known as Abu Ubaidah al-Masri, was in charge of collecting "religious alms" and "taxes" in the Syrian cities of Raqqa, Deir Ezzor and al-Bukamal. The Egyptian had been a member of the group for two years according to the sources.
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The only thing left is for an Egyptian to steal IS's shoes while they perform Friday prayers. - Egyptian Twitter user |
A court set up by the IS group has reportedly ordered Mohammad to be executed in public - but efforts to locate him have failed.
Alms and taxes are an important revenue stream for IS, especially after the recent drop in oil prices. The group is understood to have set an operating budget of $2 billion for 2015, with a surplus of $250 million.
Local sources close to IS told al-Araby al-Jadeed Mohammad had travelled to Syria two years ago with other Arab militants after working in the Gulf on a temporary contract. He was an administrator in the group, not a fighter.
Mohammad is understood to have transferred the money through local exchange bureaus. He then changed his look from the traditional Afghan style common among many jihadists to a more modern cut before escaping.
Egyptians have celebrated the actions of their countryman on social media, saying it was an important blow to IS.
"The only thing left is for an Egyptian to steal IS' shoes while they perform Friday prayers," tweeted one Egyptian.
Not all Twitterers agreed: "The Abu Ubaidah you're celebrating is not only an IS terrorist also a thief. Why are you so happy?"
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
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