NEW DELHI: A former jihadist operative from the US who had allegedly attended proscribed terror outfit Lashker e Taiba’s coaching camp in Pakistan in 2000, helped different jihadists acquire entry to those camps and engaged in terrorist actions in Kashmir, together with firing at Indian positions, has been appointed by the Donald Trump regime to the White Home Advisory Board of Lay Leaders.Ismail Royer and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, co-founder of Zaytuna Schoolhave been listed regardless of their alleged affiliations with Islamic jihadists and proscribed terror teams together with LeT, al Qaeda and HAMAS, in accordance with US investigative journalist Lara Loomer. Royer, who was Rendell Royer until he transformed to Islam in 2000, was convicted by a US court docket in 2004 and handed a 20-year jail sentence for terrorist actions that focused Individuals — particularly, as a part of the Virginia jihadi community.He was investigated by the FBI and in 2003, indicted on terrorism-related expenses, together with conspiracy to levy struggle in opposition to the US and offering materials help toal-Qaeda and LeT. He pleaded responsible in 2004 to aiding and abetting using firearms and explosives, receiving a 20-year sentence however serving solely 13 years, Loomer posted on X on Saturday. As per the White Home assertion, Ismail Royer serves as Director of the Islam and Non secular Freedom Motion Crew for the Non secular Freedom Institute. “Since changing to Islam in 1992, he has studied spiritual sciences with conventional Islamic students and spent over a decade working at non-profit Islamic organizations. Royer has labored with nonprofits to advertise peace between faiths,” it states.Loomer claimed {that a} second appointee to the advisory board of Lay Leaders — described by the White Home assertion as co-founder of Zaytuna School, the primary accredited Muslim liberal arts school in the US, and an advisor to the Middle for Islamic Research at Berkeley’s Graduate Theological Union — additionally has a jihadi background.“I to tell you that Shaykh Hamza Yusuf @yusuf can be a Jihadi who has lied concerning the true definition of jihad and is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and HAMAS. Zaytuna School, which was co-founded by Hamza Yusuf @sh_hamzayusuf , teaches Sharia Regulation,” she posted.In keeping with a DoJ assertion dated January 16, 2004, Royer and a co-accused Ibrahim Al-Hamdi pleaded responsible to weapons and explosives expenses stemming from the investigation right into a militant jihadist community in Northern Virginia that allegedly deliberate to coach at terrorist camps overseas. Royer, then 30, pleaded responsible to a two-count felony info, charging him with utilizing and discharging a firearm throughout and in relation to against the law of violence, and with carrying an explosive throughout the fee of a felony. Royer was sentenced to twenty years in jail, however remained there for round 13 years.In his plea settlement, Royer admitted to aiding and abetting co-defendant Masoud Khan, Yong Ki Kwon, Muhammed Aatique, and Khwaja Mahmoud Hasan in gaining entry to a terrorist coaching camp in Pakistan operated by Lashkar-e-Taiba the place they educated in using numerous weapons, together with semi-automatic pistols. Royer additionally admitted to serving to co-defendant Ibrahim Ahmed Al-Hamdi acquire entry to the Lashkar-e-Taiba camp, the place Al-Hamdi acquired coaching in using a rocket-propelled grenade in furtherance of a conspiracy to conduct navy operations in opposition to India. Royer acknowledged that he dedicated his efforts to assist different jihadists acquire entry to the Lashkar-e-Taiba coaching camp following a gathering on Sept. 16, 2001, at which an unindicted conspirator mentioned that the terrorist assaults on Sept. 11, 2001, could be used as an excuse to set off a world struggle in opposition to Islam, and that the time had come for them to go overseas and, if doable, be a part of the mujahideen.In keeping with Lara Loomer, Ismail Royer, born Randall Todd Royer, embraced Islam and have become concerned in Muslim advocacy, however his experiences combating within the Bosnian Warfare and fascinating with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Pakistan in 2000 marked a flip towards jihadi militancy. “His actions with LeT, a US-designated terrorist group, included propaganda, firing at Indian positions in Kashmir, and possessing weapons, demonstrating a dedication to violent jihadist causes,” she posted.Submit-9/11, Royer was a key determine within the “Virginia Jihad Community,” organizing paintball coaching and facilitating journey to LeT camps for weapons coaching, with some members aiming to help the Taliban in opposition to US forces.Royer was launched from jail in 2017.