A federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Halima Salman of receiving military training from ISIS. This trial marked a significant moment as it was the first time a woman accused of joining ISIS faced a federal court in the U.S. Salman, a 27-year-old American citizen and former Brooklyn resident, could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.
Federal prosecutors explained that Salman’s journey began in 2016 when her family left the United States. Traveling with her parents and eight siblings, she ended up in ISIS-controlled territory in Syria. At 18, she married an ISIS fighter and sought military training from the terrorist group.
“With today’s verdict, Salman is held accountable for joining forces with a terrorist organization,” stated U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr.
During the trial, evidence included a video of Salman with an assault rifle and photographs depicting her with an ISIS flag. Additionally, text messages sent to her husband showed her support for ISIS activities.
Salman’s defense argued that she was led into the situation by her father and later her husband. Born in Brooklyn, she claimed she expected a family trip to Turkey, not a journey into Syria.
She described her struggles, including not wanting to marry at 18 and attempting to secure a divorce. “You try to leave, it is death,” she testified, describing the difficulties of escaping from ISIS-held regions.
Ultimately, she fled to Baghouz, Syria, with other refugees and was detained in 2019. After returning to New York in 2024, U.S. authorities arrested her. Her attorneys are seeking an acquittal, stating the trial evidence was insufficient for conviction.
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