Halima Salman, a woman in her 20s, is facing criminal charges in the United States for training with ISIS abroad. She is accused of learning to use an AK-47 assault rifle from the terrorist organization while living in Syria. Salman was repatriated to the US along with 10 other family members from northeast Syria in what Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the largest single repatriation of Americans from the region. It is not clear if any other members of the family are facing charges related to their time with ISIS.
Salman left the US and entered an ISIS-controlled area of Syria when she was 17 years old. After turning 18, she received training from ISIS and was eventually captured by or surrendered to forces opposed by ISIS in Baghouz, Syria. In 2023, she was interviewed by FBI agents in a detention facility in Syria where she denied being involved in any ISIS activities. However, information obtained from a phone belonging to her husband, found in Syria, suggests otherwise. The phone contained pictures of Salman with an AK-47 and in front of an ISIS flag, along with documents indicating her completion of military training with the terrorist organization.
The woman who led the all-female battalion of ISIS fighters that Salman trained with was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022. The group of women, some as young as 10, were trained to use explosives and firearms. The US government has been working to repatriate Americans from former ISIS territory and has encouraged other nations to do the same. There are still tens of thousands of people, mostly children, from more than 60 countries remaining in two encampments in northeast Syria – Al-Hol and Roj.
Salman is currently facing criminal charges in the United States for her involvement with ISIS. It is unclear if she has legal representation at this time. The State Department has not provided any comments on the charges against her. The evidence against Salman includes photos and documents found on a phone allegedly belonging to her husband, which indicate her participation in ISIS activities. The case highlights the ongoing efforts to address individuals who have been involved with terrorist organizations abroad and the challenges of repatriating them to their home countries.
Overall, the case of Halima Salman sheds light on the complexities of dealing with individuals who have trained with terrorist organizations such as ISIS. The US government’s efforts to repatriate Americans from former ISIS territories underscore the importance of addressing the issue of foreign fighters and their families. The situation in northeast Syria, where thousands of individuals from various countries remain in encampments, highlights the ongoing challenges in dealing with the aftermath of ISIS’s presence in the region. The legal proceedings against Salman and the evidence presented in the case serve as a reminder of the need to address the issue of radicalization and terrorist activities at both a domestic and an international level.
