American Woman Convicted of Training to Be ISIS Fighter

An American woman has been convicted in federal court of training to become an ISIS fighter. Halima Salman, 27, was found guilty Tuesday of pledging loyalty to the Islamic State group and willingly participating in its activities after marrying an ISIS fighter in Syria as a teenager.

During her trial, jurors were presented with evidence including a video of Salman holding an assault rifle, a photograph of her with the ISIS flag, and text messages she sent to her husband. Prosecutors argued that the evidence showed Salman received military training from a violent terrorist organization.

Salman, who was born in Brooklyn, testified that her father forced her into an arranged marriage and compelled her participation in terrorist activities when she was 17. "I do blame my father for a lot of things that happened," she stated on the stand.

Her father, described as an Islamic State sympathizer, died in 2018. He had arranged for Salman to marry an ISIS member shortly after she turned 18. Prosecutors presented text messages that they contended contradicted Salman's account of a difficult marriage.

Salman and her husband eventually fled their home and became separated. She was detained in Baghouz, Syria, in 2019 by forces opposed to the Islamic State group. US authorities arrested her upon her return to New York in 2024.

Her attorneys have filed a motion asking the judge to set aside the verdict, arguing that the evidence presented does not legally support a conviction. Sentencing is scheduled for February 2. If convicted, Salman faces up to 10 years in prison. The US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York stated that the verdict holds Salman accountable for joining forces with a terrorist organization responsible for widespread violence.