A Syrian Democratic Forces fighter burns an ISIS flag on the front line on the western side of Raqqa, northeast Syria, Monday, July 17, 2017.
A Canadian citizen who led propaganda efforts for the Islamic State group and personally executed two Syrian soldiers in widely circulated videos was sentenced to life in prison Friday by a U.S. judge.
In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors said Khalifa played a key role in the group's successful efforts to recruit tens of thousands of foreign fighters to defend its self-proclaimed caliphate in Iraq and Syria. Khalifa's defence attorneys had sought a term of just 20 years at Friday's sentencing hearing in Alexandria, Virginia. They argued that he was less culpable than two British-born Islamic State members – Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, nicknamed the "Beatles" by their captives – who personally beat and tortured Western hostages.
Khalifa pleaded guilty last year to terrorism charges. In a letter to U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis written ahead of Friday's sentencing hearing in Alexandria, Virginia, Khalifa said he felt compelled to help the Syrian people in their revolt against dictator Bashar al-Assad, but that he made a mistake by opting to become a fighter as opposed to joining an aid organization.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
U.S. judge gives life term to Canadian ISIS propagandistFALLS CHURCH, Va. — A Canadian citizen who led propaganda efforts for the Islamic State group and personally executed two Syrian soldiers in widely circulated…
Read more »
US judge gives life term to Canadian ISIS propagandistThe Saudi-born Canadian held prominent roles in the Islamic State group from 2013 until his capture in 2019
Read more »
Canadian who worked as ISIS propagandist sentenced to life imprisonment in U.S. - National | Globalnews.caA 39-year-old who grew up in Toronto, Khalifa left Canada in 2013 for Syria, where he underwent training and used his English-language skills to narrate ISIS execution videos.
Read more »
U.S. judge sentences Canadian man to life in prison for aiding ISIS | CBC NewsA U.S. judge on Friday sentenced a Saudi-born Canadian man to life in prison after he pleaded guilty in December to aiding ISIS by working with propagandists who publicized the group's beheading of hostages.
Read more »
U.S. judge gives life term to Canadian ISIS propagandistFALLS CHURCH, Va. — A Canadian citizen who led propaganda efforts for the Islamic State group and personally executed two Syrian soldiers in widely circulated…
Read more »
US judge gives life term to Canadian ISIS propagandistThe Saudi-born Canadian held prominent roles in the Islamic State group from 2013 until his capture in 2019
Read more »