U.S. Woman Faces Trial for Alleged ISIS Terror Ties
A 27-year-old woman accused of joining ISIS faces trial in the U.S. after being repatriated from Syria.
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A 27-year-old woman accused of joining ISIS faces trial in the U.S. after being repatriated from Syria. The case centers on Salman, who was brought to Syria in 2016 at age 17 and married an ISIS member at 18. Prosecutors allege she received military training from a female ISIS unit and handled an AK-47.
Forced into ISIS Life
Salman, born in Brooklyn in 1999, was forced into ISIS territory by her father and arranged to marry Abu Ali, an Afghan-German fighter. She testified that the marriage was arranged against her will and that the wedding took place in a dimly lit room resembling a garage. Salman described feeling scared and uncertain about her fate.
During the trial, jurors watched cellphone footage of Salman carrying an AK-47 and walking with it inside her husband’s home. Prosecutors argue that the video shows she was not only familiar with the weapon but may have used it before. A handwritten document found on her husband’s phone purportedly certifies she was qualified to carry a Kalashnikov and ammunition, though defense lawyers have questioned its authenticity.
Testimony and Legal Proceedings
Salman has denied supporting ISIS, stating she believes the group’s actions misrepresent Islam. She described being forced to wear a black hijab and veil, living under strict rules, and spending two years in ISIS territory followed by five years in a Kurdish-run detention camp after the group’s collapse. Her father was killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2018.
Salman was arrested at JFK Airport in 2024 after being repatriated from Syria by the State Department. She is currently free on a $500,000 bond and living with relatives in New Hampshire. If convicted, she could face up to 10 years in prison for knowingly receiving military training from a terrorist organization.
Legal and Family Context
Her mother, Brandy, an Arkansas native, has attended the trial. Her ex-husband is believed to be in an Iraqi jail. The trial began earlier this month, with prosecutors having rested their case. Defense closing statements are scheduled for Thursday.
Source: The Gateway Pundit
