US teen whose father arranged her marriage to Islamic State fighter convicted for weapons training
Summary
A federal jury convicted Halima Salman, a U.S. citizen from New York, of receiving weapons training from the Islamic State group after she was taken to Syria as a teenager. Salman’s defense said her father and husband controlled her, while prosecutors argued she willingly supported the group; her lawyers have asked the judge to overturn the verdict.Key Facts
- Salman was 17 when her father took her and other family members from Turkey into Syria in 2017.
- Prosecutors presented a video of Salman holding an assault rifle, a photograph of her with the group’s flag and text messages to her husband.
- Salman testified that she was frightened and tried to leave her marriage, saying, “You try to leave, it is death.”
- Prosecutors argued that Salman had more choice and involvement than she described, citing messages and a religious song she sent to her husband.
- Salman’s lawyers asked the judge to set aside the verdict and acquit her.
- The conviction carries a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years, and sentencing is scheduled for February 2.
- The Islamic State seized territory in Iraq and Syria in 2014; it lost control of territory in Iraq in 2017 and Syria in 2019.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
