Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem is the American Muslim convert and mastermind behind the plot to assassinate Pamela Geller and all the attendees at a Draw Muhammed contest in Garland, Texas in 2015. On Wednesday, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
According to Fox News, “Prosecutors sought a life sentence for Kareem, who became the second person in the U.S. to be convicted of charges of supporting ISIS. He was convicted of conspiring to support a foreign terrorist organization, interstate transportation of firearms and other charges.”
Though Kareem told the judge he “had nothing to do’ with the attack at the art contest, investigators learned he provided funds to two accomplices, Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, who opened fire on the event. Both men were killed in a shootout with police. Thankfully, only a security guard was wounded.
More from Fox:
During the investigation, police found that Kareem has hosted two ISIS followers in his home to discuss the attack. It’s still unknown whether the Texas attack was inspired by ISIS or carried out in response to an order from the group.
Prosecutors have said Kareem watched videos depicting violence by jihadists with the two friends, encouraged them to launch violent attack to support the terrorist group and researched travel to the Middle East to join Islamic State fighters.
Authorities also said Kareem inquired about explosives to blow up the Arizona stadium where the 2015 Super Bowl was held, but later set his sights on the cartoon contest after the stadium plan fell through.
Of his sentence, Geller said, “This attack was a declaration of war in the homeland. Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem should have gotten a life sentence at Gitmo. Freedom of speech is the foundation of a free society. Without it, a tyrant can wreak havoc unopposed, while his opponents are silenced.”
Bosch Fawstin was one of the targets and winner of the drawing contest. He was raised in a Muslim family but escaped the extremism after reading Ayn Rand. He is a comic book author and illustrator who launched the world’s first anti-jihad comic series, The Infidel, Featuring Pigman — an ex-Muslim who wears pigskin leather and fights Islamic terrorists through rage birthed during the 9/11 attacks.
Here's his winning entry:
