A federal jury has found Halima Salman guilty of knowingly undergoing military-style training with ISIS in Syria, concluding a prominent terrorism trial with an emotional verdict. This particular case is understood to be the first instance where a woman accused of affiliating with ISIS faced trial in a U.S. federal court.
Salman, identified also by the name "Umm Khattab al-Muhajir," is a 27-year-old American citizen and former Brooklyn resident. She now faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years, with her sentencing scheduled for February 2.
Prosecution's Case and Evidence Presented
Federal prosecutors presented evidence stating that Salman's parents, accompanied by her and her eight siblings, departed the United States in 2016, eventually bringing the family into areas of Syria controlled by ISIS. The Justice Department indicated that at the age of 18, she married an ISIS combatant and willingly pursued military-style instruction from the terrorist group.
According to prosecutors, Salman swore allegiance to ISIS and actively engaged in its operations. She was authorized by ISIS to possess an assault rifle and received a certificate verifying her completion of the training. Officials stated this document was subsequently discovered on her husband's mobile phone.
Evidence presented to the jurors during the trial included a video depicting Salman holding an assault rifle, a photograph of her alongside an ISIS flag, and text messages she sent to her husband expressing support.
"With today’s verdict, Salman is held accountable for joining forces with a terrorist organization," U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York said in a statement. "ISIS ravaged Syria and caused havoc across the globe; our Office will continue to prosecute those who supported its murderous reign," Nocella further emphasized.
Emotional Scenes in the Courtroom
After the verdict was delivered at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Salman became visibly distraught, weeping openly as members of her legal defense team offered comfort. Her mother, who arrived upon hearing that the jury had reached a decision, also succumbed to emotion, observed crying on her knees in the courtroom gallery. Several individuals from Salman's defense counsel, including lead attorney Mia Eisner-Grynberg, were also visibly moved.
The verdict on Tuesday followed earlier reports that jurors were encountering difficulties in achieving a unanimous decision, leading them to be sent back for further deliberations on two separate occasions.
Defense Arguments and Salman's Testimony
Salman's legal representatives presented her as a teenager who was drawn into the Syrian civil conflict first by her father, and subsequently by her husband. Born in Brooklyn, Salman testified that she thought the family was en route to visit relatives in Turkey, but her father instead led them across the border into Syria.
She stated in her testimony, "I do blame my father for a lot of things that happened."
She further claimed she did not wish to be "married off" at 18 and had attempted to seek a divorce.
"You try to leave, it is death," Salman recounted.
Salman's testimony indicated she ultimately escaped with other refugees and became separated from her husband. She was apprehended in Baghouz, Syria, in 2019 by anti-ISIS forces, and subsequently arrested by U.S. authorities upon her return to New York in 2024.
Next Steps in the Case
According to The Associated Press, Salman's defense attorneys have petitioned the judge to overturn the verdict and issue an acquittal, contending that the evidence presented during the trial was legally inadequate to support the conviction.