Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chargesheet in Huzaif Shaikh honey trap case uncovered a silent love story between the arrested accused, Huzaif Sheikh, and Rabiya, alias Umm Osama, the widow of global terrorist Shafi Armar, also known as Yusuf-Al-Hindi, the deceased chief of the ISIS’ Khorasan module. While Sheikh, a self-radicalised accused allegedly working for the ISIS; Khorasan module, is lodged in Nashik jail, Rabiya is believed to be holed up in Syria.
Their WhatsApp chat conversations reveal deep emotional exchanges, including personal messages, discussions about various situations, and expressions of care. Sheikh not only supported Rabia alias Umm Osama by sending her money in Syria but also ensured her mother’s well-being in Pakistan, relaying messages between them. At the same time, he managed Shafi Armar’s family. His ultimate goal was clear—to step into Shafi Armar’s place in Rabia’s life as her husband after his death.
In their unspoken love story, both Sheikh and Umm Osama found solace in each other, filling the void left by the loss of their life partners. The depth of their emotional bond became particularly evident following a personal tragedy. In June 2023, Sheikh’s first wife, Afreen, passed away. Grieving, he shared a photo of his newborn baby along with the heartbreaking news of Afreen’s demise.
In response, the wanted accused Umm Osama, alias Rabiya, expressed her condolences in their chat, writing, ‘Allah usko firdous ala mai jaga de’ (May Allah grant her a place in the highest paradise). Sheikh, now arrested, replied, ‘Aameen N shafi bhai ko b’ (Ameen, and also for Shafi Bhai), referring to Shafi Armar, Umm Osama’s late husband.
However, rather than reacting to Afreen’s condolence message, Sheikh subtly conveyed his own loneliness, making Umm Osama realize that he, too, was now alone. This exchange highlighted not only their deep emotional connection but also the silent understanding that bound them together in love and loss.
Additionally, in their chats umm Osama inquiries about Sheikh’s well-being, as well as that of their daughter and son. in Another conversation she mentioned the birth of Osama, the son of the wanted accused. Umm Osama also shared details about her living conditions and photos of her house in the Al-Hawl camp in Syria. She later sent Sheikh some pictures of her son Osama’s classroom. In response, Sheikh arranged for a parcel of medicines to be sent to Turkey and carefully instructed her on how to collect it. He also assured her that he would send some financial assistance. Following this, Sheikh transferred 2,100 dirhams (approximately Rs 50,000) via hawala to a UAE-based bank account at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank.
After Afreen’s death, Sheikh remarried, but his attention remained entirely on Umm Osama. He longed to see her, meet her, and, according to sources, was planning to marry her after their five-year online relationship. Sheikh even intended to move to Syria to fulfill this plan. His Google Takeout “My Activity” records revealed a concerning search history, including queries about UAE-Oman border crossing for expats 2022, Turkey visa, Turkey flights, lookout circulars, immigration officer checks at the airport, and Bhatkal bookings.
The chargesheet exposes that, apart from his mother, Umm Osama, who resides in Karachi, Pakistan, he was also in contact with her brother, who was imprisoned in Syria jail. Additionally, he maintained communication with the family of Umm Osama’s terrorist late husband, Shafi Armar, and provided them with all necessary assistance.
Meanwhile, Umm Osama regularly gave him instructions to evade security agencies. In one chat, she warned Sheikh, saying:—-“Please don’t call or message Ammi. She has received a call informing her that your phone records are being retrieved.”
She also took precautions to ensure that security agencies did not track Sheikh. Their conversations initially revolved around jihad and extremist propaganda but later developed into a covert romantic relationship. Investigative agencies suspect that Umm Osama, the widow of global terrorist Shafi Armar, may have used this as a honey trap.
