Rewards for Justice is offering a reward of up to $7 million for information on Muhammad Abbatay, better known as Abd al-Rahman al-Maghrebi. Al-Maghrebi is an Iran-based key leader of al-Qa’ida (AQ). He is the longtime director of AQ’s media arm, al-Sahab, and is the son-in-law and senior advisor to AQ leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Documents recovered during the 2011 military operation against now-deceased former AQ leader Usama bin Ladin indicate al-Maghrebi has been a rising star in AQ for many years. Al-Maghrebi has served as AQ’s general manager in Afghanistan and Pakistan since 2012. Following years of international counterterrorism pressure, he relocated to Iran, where he has continued to oversee AQ activities worldwide. As head of AQ’s External Communications Office, al-Maghrebi coordinates activities with AQ affiliates.
On January 12, 2021, the U.S. Department of State designated al-Maghrebi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended. As a result of this designation, among other consequences, all property and interests in property of al-Maghrebi that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with al-Maghrebi. In addition, it is a crime to knowingly provide, or attempt or conspire to provide, material support or resources to AQ, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.
