The Saudi-born Canadian held prominent roles in the Islamic State group from 2013 until his capture in 2019
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.
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