World · North America · 2 hrs ago
New York woman convicted of receiving weapons training from Islamic State
A jury convicted Halima Salman of receiving weapons training from Islamic State in New York on Tuesday.
Salman, now 27 and a US citizen, was 17 when her father took the family to Syria in 2017.
Prosecutors said she joined the group willingly, while Salman testified that her father and extremist husband trapped her there.
She said she was trained to use an assault rifle, but described being frightened and unable to leave.
The conviction carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Her lawyers are asking the judge to overturn the verdict, and sentencing is set for Feb.
2.
Islamic State was defeated in Iraq and Syria, but it still has sleeper cells that carry out deadly attacks in both countries.
Halima Salman, a 27-year-old New York woman, was convicted on Oct. 27 of receiving weapons training from the Islamic State group.
The conviction carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and her sentencing is set for Feb. 2.
Prosecutors said Salman willingly joined the group and received training in Syria; her defense argued she was taken there as a teenager and was controlled by extremists.
Salman testified that she was frightened and confused when she was taken to Syria and tried to leave her marriage.
- Who
- Halima Salman, a 27-year-old U.S. citizen from New York.
- What
- She was convicted of receiving weapons or military training from the Islamic State group.
- When
- Oct. 27, 2026.
- Where
- New York. The training took place in Syria.
- Why
- Prosecutors said she received training while affiliated with the group. The defense argued she was taken to Syria as a teenager and was controlled by others.
Prosecutors
Defense
Agency in Syria
Prosecutors
Prosecutors said Salman pledged loyalty to the group and willingly participated in its activities.
Defense
The defense portrayed her as a teenager taken to Syria by her father and later controlled by her extremist husband.
Evidence of training
Prosecutors
Prosecutors said she received military training and presented evidence including a video of her holding an assault rifle.
Defense
Salman said she was frightened and confused when taken to Syria; the defense argued she was trapped in the conflict.
Salman was 17 when she was taken by her father to Syria, according to her testimony.
Salman’s father died after being injured in an airstrike.
Syrian forces opposed to the Islamic State took Salman into custody, according to the Straits Times.
Salman returned to the United States and was arrested, according to the Straits Times.
Salman was convicted of receiving weapons training from the Islamic State group.
Salman’s sentencing is currently scheduled for this date.
- Age at conviction
- 27
- Potential prison term
- Up to 10 years
- Age when she travelled to Syria
- 17
- Year she returned to the United States
- 2024
- Sentencing date
- Feb. 2
3 sources
What people are saying
You try to leave, it is death
I do blame my father for a lot of things that happened
With today’s verdict, Salman is held accountable for joining forces with a terrorist organization
The evidence shows that the defendant received military training from a violent, brutal, terrorist organization — an organization that is responsible for attacks across the world