An Ohio university professor is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for his alleged ties with the Islamic State (ISIS) including his alleged effort to recruit students to join the terror organisation.
The FBI has confirmed that it has been investigating Julio Pino, associate history professor at Kent State University, since 2014.
Pino, who converted to Islam in 2000, is known for his anti-Israel views, according to Kentwired.com.
"We are cooperating with the FBI, and we have been assured that there is no indication of a threat to campus," said Kent University president Beverly Warren. "We continue to find Julio Pino's comments reprehensible and counter to our core values of civil discourse and respect. As a university, we do not defend his views, and he does not speak on behalf of Kent State or members of our community."
The report said an FBI agent interviewed faculty members and Pino's students on the professor's alleged involvement in ISIS.
Pino denied the allegation, saying he has "no ties to any politics of Islam, the Islamic State or any other political organisation here in the United States or abroad."
"I have never discussed the politics of Islam, the Islamic State or any other political organisation with the students, with the faculty or with anyone else on campus," he said.
He added," "From a legal standpoint, I'm not aware that they're going after me or charging me with anything," he told Kentwired. "I'm not aware of any kind of criminal investigation or charges or anything of that sort."
Pino said he has not violated any law.
"I've not broken the law. I don't advocate that anyone else break the law, so I'll stand by that statement that I fulfill my duties as an American citizen by speaking out on issues that some people find controversial, of course, but no, I have not violated any laws that I'm aware of or that anyone has informed me of," he said.
However, on his Facebook page, Pino has posted photos of ISIS members.
