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US teen whose father arranged her marriage to Islamic State fighter convicted for weapons training
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- Halima Salman, a New York-born US citizen, was convicted of receiving weapons training from the Islamic State (IS) after being taken to Syria as a teenager by her father and married off to an IS fighter.
- Prosecutors presented evidence including a video of Salman holding an assault rifle, photos with IS flags, and affectionate messages to her husband, arguing she willingly participated in IS activities and pledged loyalty.
- Salman and her defense portrayed her as a coerced teenager trapped in Syria’s civil war, forced into marriage and unable to leave due to threats of death, with Salman testifying she repeatedly sought a divorce.
- The verdict carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for February 2; Salman’s lawyers plan to seek acquittal by arguing insufficient legal evidence supports the conviction.
- Despite IS’s territorial defeat, the group remains active through sleeper cells; Salman’s case highlights ongoing challenges in prosecuting individuals linked to extremist groups amid complex personal circumstances.
