Daniel Maldonado
Encyclopedia
Daniel Maldonado, also known by his adopted Muslim name Daniel Aljughaifi, is a U.S.
convert to a fundamentalist Islam
who faces charges
for an alleged association with terrorism.
Maldonado converted to Islam in 2000 in Methuen
, Massachusetts
.
According to the Boston Globe his views became so extreme his mosque
's imam
asked him to either quit criticizing the mosque's other members, or to leave, according to a friend of Maldonado, Soner Uguz, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
:
In mid-February 2007 Maldonado was charged with playing a role in terrorist activities in Somalia
. Maldonado is notable because his charge, in a Houston, Texas
court, was the first time a US citizen faced charges for participating in terrorism in Somalia.
The Boston Globe reported that, as a youth, Maldonado had minor brushes with the law, but nothing serious.
Maldonado, his wife, Tamekia (née Cunningham) and three young children, moved to Egypt
in November 2005.
The Boston Globe reports that an FBI affidavit
asserts he moved to Somalia a year later, where he undertook training in bomb-making and military skills.
According to a speech FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III delivered on March 28, 2007 at National Defense University
:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
convert to a fundamentalist Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
who faces charges
Indictment
An indictment , in the common-law legal system, is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence—an...
for an alleged association with terrorism.
Maldonado converted to Islam in 2000 in Methuen
Methuen, Massachusetts
Methuen is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 43,789 at the 2000 census.-History:Methuen was first settled in 1642 and was officially incorporated in 1726; it is named for the British diplomat Sir Paul Methuen. Methuen was originally part of Haverhill,...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
According to the Boston Globe his views became so extreme his mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
's imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
asked him to either quit criticizing the mosque's other members, or to leave, according to a friend of Maldonado, Soner Uguz, of Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States on the Merrimack River. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 76,377. Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and North Andover to the southeast. It and Salem are...
:
- "He was arrogant; he knew the book [the Koran] better than anyone, He went from loving rapRapRap may refer to:*Rapping, performance in which rhyming lyrics are used, with or without musical accompaniment ; while an MC performs spoken verses in time to a beat/ melody**Hip hop subculture**Hip hop music...
to hating poetry."
In mid-February 2007 Maldonado was charged with playing a role in terrorist activities in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. Maldonado is notable because his charge, in a Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
court, was the first time a US citizen faced charges for participating in terrorism in Somalia.
The Boston Globe reported that, as a youth, Maldonado had minor brushes with the law, but nothing serious.
Maldonado, his wife, Tamekia (née Cunningham) and three young children, moved to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in November 2005.
The Boston Globe reports that an FBI affidavit
Affidavit
An affidavit is a written sworn statement of fact voluntarily made by an affiant or deponent under an oath or affirmation administered by a person authorized to do so by law. Such statement is witnessed as to the authenticity of the affiant's signature by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public...
asserts he moved to Somalia a year later, where he undertook training in bomb-making and military skills.
According to a speech FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III delivered on March 28, 2007 at National Defense University
National Defense University
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy. It is chartered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Navy Vice Admiral...
:
... such as the arrest of suspected terrorist Daniel Maldonado. Maldonado, an American citizen who converted to the Muslim faith, moved from Houston to Egypt in November 2005. He then traveled to Somalia to practice what he called 'true Islam'. According to the indictment, while in MogadishuMogadishuMogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
, Maldonado participated in a jihadist training program that included weapons and explosives. He said that he was willing to fight on behalf of Al Qaeda and even offered to act as a suicide bomber. KenyaKenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n military authorities captured Maldonado in January. Members of the Houston Joint Terrorism Task ForceJoint Terrorism Task ForceA Joint Terrorism Task Force is a partnership between various U.S. law enforcement agencies that is charged with taking action against terrorism, which includes the investigation of crimes such as wire fraud and identity theft...
transported him back to the United States.