Bot: robot: Create/update articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.

2022-12-17T15:37:04Z

robot: Create/update articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.

New page

{{Short description|Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist}}
{{Infobox criminal
| name = Sajid Mir
| other_names = Sajid Majid, Sajid Majid Chaudary, Uncle Bill
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|January 1, 1978|df=yes}} or {{Birth date and age|January 31, 1976|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Lahore, Pakistan]]
| nationality = Pakistani
| organization = [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]]
| known_for = [[2008 Mumbai attacks]]
| wanted_by = India, [[FBI]]
| conviction = Terror financing ([[Anti Terrorism Court of Pakistan]])
| criminal_penalty = 15 years imprisonment
}}

'''Sajid Mir''' (also known as '''Sajid Majid'''), (born {{c.| 1 January 1978}} or {{c.| 31 January 1976}})<ref name=SajidFBI>{{cite web |last1=Wanted |first1=FBI Most |title=SAJID MIR |url=https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wanted_terrorists/sajid-mir/ |website=Federal Bureau of Investigation |access-date=8 July 2022 |language=en-us}}</ref> is a Pakistani national from [[Lahore]] and a member of the terrorist organisation [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]].<ref name="mir"/> Mir was the chief planner of the [[2008 Mumbai attacks|terrorist attacks in Mumbai]], in 2008.<ref name="mir">{{Cite book |last=Verma |first=Bharat |title=Indian Defence Review Apr-Jun 2012 |publisher=Lancer |year=2013 |isbn=978-81-7062-259-8 |volume=27 |location=New Delhi |pages=26 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=United States |title=The threat to the U.S. homeland emanating from Pakistan : hearing before the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, first session, May 3, 2011 |last2=Congress |last3=House |last4=Committee on Homeland Security |last5=Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence |publisher=U.S. G.P.O. : For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O. |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-16-090504-9 |location=Washington |pages=26 |language=English}}</ref> Sajid also managed the tasks of the 'foreign affairs' of Lashkar-e-Taiba's international wing.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rath |first=Saroj Kumar |title=Fragile Frontiers : The Secret History of Mumbai Terror Attacks |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-138-79077-3 |location=New Delhi, India |pages=75 |language=English}}</ref>

Sajid Mir was initially believed to be a fictitious character as claimed by [[Pakistan]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nanjappa |first1=Vicky |title=Sajid Mir remains a mystery even 3 years after 26/11 |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-anniversary-26-11-the-mystery-called-sajid-mir/20111123.htm |access-date=26 June 2022 |work=Rediff |publisher=[[Rediff.com]] |date=23 November 2011 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nanjappa |first1=Vicky |title=Where is Lashkar-e-Taiba's passionate Jihadi, Sajid Mir |url=https://www.oneindia.com/india/where-is-lashkar-e-taiba-s-passionate-jihadi-sajid-mir-1937912.html |access-date=26 June 2022 |work=Oneindia |date=26 November 2015 |language=en}}</ref> but French magistrate [[Jean-Louis Bruguière]]'s statement to journalist [[Sebastian Rotella]] confirmed that Sajid Mir is not a fictitious character.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Azmat |title=Could This Man's Warnings Have Prevented the Mumbai Attacks? |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/could-this-mans-warnings-have-prevented-the-mumbai-attacks/ |access-date=26 June 2022 |work=FRONTLINE |publisher=[[PBS]] |date=21 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rotella |first1=Sebastian |author-link=Sebastian Rotella |date=13 November 2010 |title=The Man Behind Mumbai |work=ProPublica |publisher=[[ProPublica]] |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/the-man-behind-mumbai |access-date=26 June 2022}}</ref> Jean-Louis Bruguiere, in 2009, also stated that Sajid Mir is a regular official in the [[Pakistan Army]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=MacDonald |first1=Myra |author-link=Myra MacDonald |date=13 November 2009 |title=INTERVIEW-French magistrate details Lashkar's global role |language=en |work=Reuters |publisher=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLC383495 |access-date=26 June 2022}}</ref>

After the Mumbai attacks attack, Mir was indicted in the United States in 2011. He was sanctioned as a [[Specially Designated Global Terrorist]] in the [[Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List]] on 30 August, 2012 by [[United States Department of the Treasury]]'s [[Office of Foreign Assets Control]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MIR, Sajid |url=https://sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/Details.aspx?id=15413 |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Mir is listed on the [[United States Department of State]]'s Rewards for Justice Terror List with a reward of upto {{USD|5 million}} for information which leads to his arrest. He is also listed on [[FBI Most Wanted Terrorists]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Sajid Mir |url=https://rewardsforjustice.net/rewards/sajid-mir/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=[[Rewards For Justice]] |language=en-US}}</ref> China has prevented the [[United Nations Security Council]] from designating Mir as a global terrorist under the [[Al-Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Committee]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mukhopadhyay |first=Sounak |date=2022-09-17 |title=LeT Commander Sajid Mir won't be called 'global terrorist', thanks to China |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/lashkaretaiba-commander-sajid-mir-who-oversaw-mumbai-attacks-won-t-be-called-global-terrorist-thanks-to-china-11663386608945.html |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref>

In 2022, an [[Anti Terrorism Court of Pakistan]] convicted him of terror financing and sentenced him to 15 years of imprisonment.

== Early life ==
Sajid Mir was born to a middle-class family in Lahore. His father Abdul Majid, who runs a textile business, went to Lahore during the [[Partition of India|India-Pakistan partition]]. Sajid is a son-in-law of a retired officer of the Pakistan Army.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ahuja |first1=Namrata Biji |title=Sajid Mir alias 'Uncle Bill' – FBI's most wanted terrorist and the man behind 26/11 |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/11/26/sajid-mir-alias-uncle-bill-fbis-most-wanted-terrorist-and-the-man-behind-26-11.html |access-date=26 June 2022 |work=The Week |publisher=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]] |date=26 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

== Militancy ==
Sajid was associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba chief [[Hafiz Saeed|Hafiz Muhammad Saeed]] in 1994, and got early access to [[Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi|Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Syed |first1=Baqir Sajjad |date=25 June 2022 |title=Top LeT man Sajid Mir quietly held, jailed in terror financing case |language=en |work=DAWN |publisher=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1696600 |access-date=25 June 2022}}</ref> Having the protection of the [[Inter-Services Intelligence]] (ISI), he also planned terror attacks in the [[United States]], [[France]], [[Australia]] and [[Denmark]] (the latter for [[Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy]]).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Shishir |date=24 June 2022 |title='Dead' 26/11 planner Sajid Mir comes alive in Pak but Masood Azhar still untraceable |language=en |work=Hindustan Times |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]] |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/dead-mumbai-26-11-attack-planner-sajid-mir-comes-alive-in-pak-but-masood-azhar-still-untraceable-101656072338838.html |access-date=25 June 2022}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

=== Terrorism plot in Australia ===
Sajid plotted terrorism attack in Australia in 2003. For such attack plan, Sajid recruited [[Willie Brigitte]], a French national who was converted to Islam and joined Lashkar-e-Taiba, and funded him to travel to Australia in May 2003. In October, 2003, Brigitte was arrested by Sydney police and deported to [[France]], where in 2007, he was convicted and sentenced to 9 years of imprisonment for the charge of 'associating with terrorists',<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gani |first1=Miriam |title=Fresh perspectives on the 'war on terror' |last2=Mathew |first2=Penelope |publisher=ANU E Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-921313-74-5 |location=Canberra |pages=292 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Burke |first1=Paul |title=Global jihadist terrorism : terrorist groups, zones of armed conflict and national counter-terrorism strategies |last2=Elnakhala |first2=Doaa' |last3=Miller |first3=Seumas |publisher=USA Edward Elgar Publishing Limited |year=2021 |isbn=9781800371293 |location=Cheltenham, UK ; Northampton, Massachusetts |pages=102 |language=en}}</ref> and Sajid Mir was also sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=McSherry |first1=Bernadette |title=Regulating Deviance : The Redirection of Criminalisation and the Futures of Criminal Law |last2=Norrie |first2=Alan W |last3=Bronitt |first3=Simon |publisher=Hart Pub. |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-84731-476-5 |location=Oxford |pages=145 |language=English}}</ref> Brigitte, who used to train Lashkar members, confessed that Sajid Mir was well known by the Pakistan Army and Sajid never had any issue roaming in the Pakistan Army's areas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fair |first=C. Christine |title=In Their Own Words : Understanding Lashkar-e-Tayyaba |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2019 |isbn=978-0-19-949521-4 |volume=1 |location=Oxford |pages=92 |language=en |author-link=C. Christine Fair}}</ref>

=== 26/11 Mumbai attacks ===
Sajid Mir was the chief plotter of the [[2008 Mumbai attacks|26/11 Mumbai attacks]]. To accomplish the terrorism attack, Sajid recruited [[David Headley|David Coleman Headley]] (Daood Sayed Gilani) and assisted Headley in visiting [[Mumbai]] prior to the attacks.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Glanz |first1=James |author-link=James Glanz |last2=Rotella |first2=Sebastian |author-link2=Sebastian Rotella |last3=Sanger |first3=David E. |author-link3=David E. Sanger |date=22 December 2014 |title=In 2008 Mumbai Attacks, Piles of Spy Data, but an Uncompleted Puzzle |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/22/world/asia/in-2008-mumbai-attacks-piles-of-spy-data-but-an-uncompleted-puzzle.html?searchResultPosition=3 |url-access=subscription |access-date=25 June 2022}}</ref> After the terror attack, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] listed Sajid Mir as the most wanted terrorist for aiding and abetting, bombing places of public use, providing material support to terrorists, injuring foreign government property, killing citizens outside the [[United States]], and other terrorist activities. Sajid has a bounty of US $5 million as declared by the FBI.<ref name=SajidFBI></ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Rishika |title=Explained: Who is Sajid Mir, the 26/11 planner reportedly arrested in Pakistan? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sajid-mir-26-11-planner-reportedly-arrested-in-pakistan-7989314/ |access-date=25 June 2022 |work=The Indian Express |publisher=[[The Indian Express]] |date=25 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In 2012, [[Zabiuddin Ansari|Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari]] revealed in interrogation that Sajid Mir had visited India in 2005 with a fake name and passport under the cricket diplomacy to watch the India-Pakistan [[One Day International|ODI Cricket match]] at [[Mohali]]. Ansari further revealed that after visiting several places in India, Sajid Mir prepared [[Taj Mahal Palace Hotel|Taj Hotel]]'s miniature model to train the attackers familiar with the hotel's inner places.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tiwary |first1=Deeptimaan |title=Pakistan used cricket diplomacy to survey terror targets {{!}} India News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Pakistan-used-cricket-diplomacy-to-survey-terror-targets/articleshow/14514152.cms |access-date=25 June 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=30 June 2012 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2020, India sought extradition of Sajid Mir, but Pakistan did not respond.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Miglani |first1=Sanjeev |title=India seeks extradition from Pakistan of suspected Mumbai attack mastermind |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-pakistan-militant-idUSKBN23Z0IL |access-date=25 June 2022 |work=Reuters |publisher=[[Reuters]] |date=28 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

== Arrest and conviction ==
Pakistan earlier denied Sajid's presence in their country, and later claimed Sajid Mir was dead, but in 2022, Pakistan arrested him.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Wajahat S. |author-link=Wajahat Saeed Khan |date=24 June 2022 |title=Pakistan holds 'dead' alleged mastermind of 2008 Mumbai attacks |work=Nikkei Asia |publisher=[[The Nikkei]] |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Terrorism/Pakistan-holds-dead-alleged-mastermind-of-2008-Mumbai-attacks |url-access=registration |access-date=25 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Subramanian |first1=Nirupama |last2=Tiwary |first2=Deeptiman |date=25 June 2022 |title=26/11 planner Sajid Mir is in Pak custody, years after it claimed he died |language=en |work=The Indian Express |publisher=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/26-11-planner-sajid-mir-is-in-pak-custody-years-after-it-claimed-he-died-7989732/ |access-date=25 June 2022}}</ref> An [[Anti Terrorism Court of Pakistan|anti-terrorism court]] in Lahore convicted Sajid Mir and sentenced him to 15 years of imprisonment with a fine of Pakistani Rs 4,20,000 in a terror financing case. Pakistan reported to the global terror financing watchdog [[Financial Action Task Force]] (FATF) that they have arrested and convicted Sajid Mir and sought removal of Pakistan from the 'Grey list' of the FATF.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zulqernain |first1=M |date=25 June 2022 |title=Mumbai terror attack handler jailed for 15 years in Pakistan |language=en |work=The Week |publisher=[[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]] |url=https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/international/2022/06/25/fgn85-pak-mumbai-terror-attacker-jailed.html |access-date=25 June 2022}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
Sajid Mir was portrayed by [[Mir Sarwar]] in the 2015 Indian film [[Phantom (2015 film)|''Phantom'']].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hungama |first1=Bollywood |title=Phantom Cast & Crew |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/phantom/cast/ |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |publisher=Bollywood Hungama |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=. |first1=TNN |title=Meet the villains of 'Phantom' - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/meet-the-villains-of-phantom/articleshow/48641316.cms |access-date=11 July 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=24 August 2015 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pacheco |first1=Sunitra |title=Will Saif Ali Khan-Katrina Kaif's 'Phantom' be as successful as Kabir Khan's last? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/will-saif-ali-khan-katrina-kaifs-phantom-be-as-successful-as-kabir-khans-last/ |access-date=11 July 2022 |work=The Indian Express |publisher=[[The Indian Express]] |date=28 August 2015 |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite web |title=Sajid Mir – Rewards For Justice |url=https://rewardsforjustice.net/rewards/sajid-mir/ |publisher=Rewards For Justice |access-date=8 July 2022}}

{{2008 Mumbai attacks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mir, Sajid}}
[[Category:1970s births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]
[[Category:People from Lahore]]
[[Category:Participants in the 2008 Mumbai attacks]]
[[Category:Lashkar-e-Taiba members]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism in Australia]]
[[Category:Pakistan Army officers]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism in India]]
[[Category:People of Inter-Services Intelligence]]
[[Category:Fugitives wanted by India]]
[[Category:Fugitives wanted on terrorism charges]]
[[Category:Pakistani people imprisoned on charges of terrorism]]
[[Category:People convicted on terrorism charges]]
[[Category:Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List]]
[[Category:Individuals designated as terrorists by the United States government]]
[[Category:Pakistani Islamists]]

Sajid Mir (terrorist) - Revision history

Bot: robot: Create/update articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.