The Department of State designated New Zealand native Mark John Taylor, colloquially known as the “Kiwi Jihadi,” as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, Thursday.
Taylor, also known Abu Adbul Rahman and Muhammad Daniel, is a native of New Zealand who is most famous for burning his passport after joining the Islamic State in 2014. A well-known figure on social media, Rahman has been referred to as the “bumbling jihadi” for accidentally tweeting the location of his fellow ISIS fighters, among other strange behaviors. He is reportedly not fond of the nickname.
Taylor, a former New Zealand Defense Force infantryman, reportedly became radicalized sometime in the early 2000s. He tried to start his terrorism career in 2009, when he attempted to cross into an al-Qaida controlled part of Pakistan.He was subsequently arrested and sent home, claiming he was not a terrorist.
Taylor found his way to ISIS-controlled Syria in 2014, while the group was reaching its peak. He later requested a new passport from the Syrian government later, which was apparently denied.
At some point, Taylor grew weary of the jihadist life, and became an English teacher for young children.
Taylor was last heard from in July, but his whereabouts are currently unknown. He told New Zealand journalist Bevan Hurley he was in Raqqa, Syria, the Islamic State’s de facto capital at the time. Raqqa is currently under siege from the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and has been targeted by several U.S. air strikes.
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