Halima Salman convicted in Brooklyn of receiving military training from ISIS in Syria
A Brooklyn federal jury found Halima Salman, 27, guilty of receiving military training from ISIS in Syria. Her defence said her father took her there and she was forced into marriage; prosecutors said she took part willingly.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2A federal jury in Brooklyn on Tuesday 27 October 2026 found Halima Salman, 27, guilty of knowingly receiving military training from the Islamic State group (ISIS) in Syria. New York PostR “was convicted by a Brooklyn federal jury following three days of deliberations and a weeklong trial” Read at New York Post ↗ Hindustan TimesN “was found guilty on Tuesday of receiving military training from the jihadists” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Mixed · 2The charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison, and a sentencing date has not yet been set. New York PostR “faces a maximum 10-year sentence on her conviction” Read at New York Post ↗ Hindustan TimesN “She will be sentenced at a later date.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Right · 1The New York Post reported that it was the first time a woman had faced trial in the US on charges of joining ISIS. New York PostR “The case marked the first time that a woman faced trial in the US on charges of joining ISIS.” Read at New York Post ↗
Mixed · 2Salman was born in Brooklyn and, according to the Independent, was 17 when her father took the family to Syria in 2017; AFP reports she travelled to an IS-controlled area in late 2016 or early 2017, via Russia and Turkey. The IndependentLC “Born in Brooklyn, Salman was 17 when her father took the family on what she thought was a trip to visit relatives in Turkey in 2017.” Read at The Independent ↗ Hindustan TimesN “At 17, she travelled to an IS-controlled area of Syria in late 2016 or early 2017, via Russia and Turkey.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Mixed · 2She married an ISIS fighter known as Abu Ali, described by AFP as German-Afghan, when she was 18. She said her father arranged the marriage, and the Post reports he forced it. Hindustan TimesN “she married German-Afghan IS fighter Abu Ali, according to court documents” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ New York PostR “her father had forced her to marry a militant fighter, Abu Ali, when she was 18” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2Prosecutors said Salman willingly trained with Nusaybah Katiba, a female-only ISIS battalion, and was trained to use an assault rifle and received ammunition. New York PostR “Prosecutors argued that Salman willingly agreed during her marriage to train with Nusaybah Katiba, a female-only ISIS battalion.” Read at New York Post ↗ Hindustan TimesN “Salman was trained to use an assault rifle and received ammunition from an ISIS military battalion when she was 18” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Mixed · 2Jurors saw a video of her holding an assault rifle, a photo of her with the group's flag, and loving texts she sent her husband. The Post adds that they saw an image of a document purportedly from ISIS certifying her to carry a Kalashnikov. The IndependentLC “Jurors were shown a video of her holding an assault rifle, a photo of her with the group's flag, and loving texts she sent her husband.” Read at The Independent ↗ New York PostR “a digital image of a document purportedly from ISIS saying she was qualified to carry a Kalashnikov rifle” Read at New York Post ↗ Left · 1Salman testified in her own defence. She said her father tricked the family into entering Syria, that she was frightened and confused, and that she carried the rifle only because her husband asked her to. She said she repeatedly tried to get a divorce and that leaving would have meant death. The IndependentLC ““You try to leave, it is death,” Salman testified.”“Salman said she was only complying with her husband’s request to carry the rifle.” Read at The Independent ↗ Right · 1Her lawyers questioned whether the training certificate, recovered from her husband's phone, was authentic. They also criticised prosecutors for offering no witness who saw her train. Defence lawyer Mia Eisner-Grynberg called a conviction "a grave miscarriage of justice". New York PostR “Salman’s lawyers questioned the authenticity of the alleged ISIS training certificate — recovered from her husband Ali’s phone”“this is a grave miscarriage of justice” Read at New York Post ↗
Left · 1Prosecutors said Salman was dishonest and had more agency than she claimed. In cross-examination she conceded sending her husband a religious song about Osama bin Laden, and they cited two loving texts to dispute her account of a poor marriage. The IndependentLC “Prosecutors insisted Salman was dishonest and had more agency in Syria than she claimed.”“They got her to concede during cross-examination that she once sent a religious song about Osama bin Laden to her husband.” Read at The Independent ↗ Mixed · 2Salman was detained in 2019 by forces opposed to ISIS, held in a camp until 2024, then arrested on returning to the US. The Post says she was repatriated with nine other family members and arrested at JFK Airport. She has been living with relatives in New Hampshire on $500,000 bond. Hindustan TimesN “In early 2019, she was taken into custody by Syrian forces opposed to IS and was placed in a relocation camp until 2024” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ New York PostR “She has been living with relatives in New Hampshire while out on $500,000 bond” Read at New York Post ↗ Mixed · 2US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Nocella said the verdict held Salman "accountable for joining forces with a terrorist organization" and that his office would keep prosecuting those who supported ISIS. The Post gives his first name as Joseph and AFP as Anthony. New York PostR ““With today’s verdict, Salman is held accountable for joining forces with a terrorist organization,” said Joseph Nocella Jr.” Read at New York Post ↗ Hindustan TimesN “said United States Attorney Anthony Nocella” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Mixed · 2The Independent reports that Salman burst into tears at the verdict. AFP notes that Kurdish forces still hold about 2,200 foreign relatives of suspected IS fighters in a camp in north-eastern Syria. The IndependentLC “Salman burst into tears on hearing the verdict, as did one of her relatives in the front row.” Read at The Independent ↗ Hindustan TimesN “Kurdish forces still hold around 2,200 foreign relatives of suspected Islamic State fighters in a northeastern Syria camp” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- The Independent (AP copy, by Neumeister and Peltz) leads with her account of being taken to Syria by her father and gives much space to her testimony.
- Emphasis
- Her testimony, the courtroom scene and the prosecution's challenge to her credibility.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the 10-year maximum or the first-woman-tried point.
- Charged language
- “‘Get up, stupid wife, it’s time for you to be a wife’”
- For example
-
“Brooklyn woman found guilty of training with ISIS after dad brought her to Syria” — The Independent
“Salman burst into tears on hearing the verdict” — The Independent
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- AFP copy carried by Hindustan Times is a short factual report placing the case in the wider issue of foreign women and children from ISIS territory.
- Emphasis
- Prosecutors' statement, the repatriation problem, the 2,200 foreign relatives still held and the 83 Americans identified.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Little of the trial evidence or Salman's testimony.
- Charged language
- “jihadists”
- For example
-
“The fate of these women and their children has proven a sticking point for the Western countries from where some originated” — Hindustan Times
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The New York Post leads with the conviction and the decade in prison she faces, calling her an ISIS bride.
- Emphasis
- The first-of-its-kind trial, prosecutors' evidence (rifle video, certificate, selfies), the bond and the lead prosecutor's statement.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives her father-and-forced-marriage account briefly and without detail of her fear or attempts to divorce.
- Charged language
- “ISIS teen bride”“ruthless terror group”“Kurdish regime”“terror trainee”
- For example
-
“NYC woman who became ISIS teen bride faces decade in prison as she’s found guilty of training with terror group” — New York Post
“alleged terror trainee” — New York Post
What every side reports
- Salman, 27, was found guilty on 27 October 2026 of receiving military training from ISIS.
- The offence carries up to 10 years in prison.
- She went to ISIS-held Syria as a teenager, married an ISIS fighter and was detained in 2019 by anti-ISIS forces.
- She was arrested on returning to the US in 2024.
- Prosecutors quoted US Attorney Nocella saying the verdict held her accountable.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether Salman acted willingly
- Left
- The Independent presents her as taken to Syria by her father and trapped there, and gives her testimony in detail alongside the prosecution case.
- Centre
- AFP says prosecutors alleged she was trained and the defence called her a victim brought there as a child.
- Right
- The Post says prosecutors argued she willingly agreed to train, and describes her as an 'ISIS teen bride'.
-
The US attorney's first name
- Centre
- AFP: Anthony Nocella
- Right
- The Post: Joseph Nocella Jr.
-
Halima Salman was convicted of receiving military training from ISIS.
Supported- Supports 3
- The Independent, Hindustan Times, New York Post
-
Salman was taken to Syria as a young woman by her father and did not go willingly.
Reported- Supports 1
- The Independent
- Reports 2
- Hindustan Times, New York Post
Halima Salman person
Salman says her father tricked the family into Syria, forced her into marriage, and she only carried the rifle at her husband's request. Her lawyers contest the certificate's authenticity and call the verdict a miscarriage of justice.
““I do blame my father for a lot of things that happened,” she testified.” — The Independent
“this is a grave miscarriage of justice” — New York Post
ISIS organisation
ISIS is described by prosecutors and US officials as a violent, brutal terrorist organisation; the articles do not include any statement from it. Its fighters, including her husband Abu Ali, appear in the case. He is believed to be in an Iraqi jail.
“a violent, brutal, terrorist organization; an organization that is responsible for attacks across the world” — The Independent
“Her ISIS militant ex-husband is believed to be in an Iraqi jail, according to a law enforcement source.” — New York Post
Left1 article
-
Brooklyn woman found guilty of training with ISIS after dad brought her to Syria
Sympathetic Foregrounds her testimony that her father took her to Syria and that she was trapped, while recording the prosecution's rebuttal.
Centre1 article
-
Hindustan TimesN · · via AFP
American woman convicted of getting military training from Islamic State
Neutral AFP wire copy: a brief report that sets the verdict against the unresolved fate of foreign women held after ISIS.
Right1 article
-
Critical Leads with the conviction and her ISIS 'bride' past, stressing prosecution evidence over her account.
- 27 Oct 20:25 First New York PostR NYC woman who became ISIS teen bride faces decade in prison as she’s found guilty of training with terror group
- 27 Oct 20:56 +30m Hindustan TimesN American woman convicted of getting military training from Islamic State via AFP
- 27 Oct 21:07 +41m The IndependentLC Brooklyn woman found guilty of training with ISIS after dad brought her to Syria
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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