Halima Salman, a 27-year-old American woman born in Brooklyn, has become the first American woman accused of receiving ISIS military training, who is facing a full federal trial for her involvement with organization.
Federal prosecutors accuse Salman of voluntarily training with Nusaybah Katiba, an all-female ISIS battalion, while living in Syria in 2018. Jurors were shown photographs of her handling an AK-47 assault rifle, photographs that include an ISIS flag and an ISIS document authorizing her to receive a rifle and ammunition.
Salman traveled to ISIS-controlled Syria as a teenager and married a German-Afghan ISIS fighter known as Abu Ali shortly after turning 18.
After ISIS lost its territory, Salman was arrested by Kurdish-led forces in 2019 and spent about five years in detention camps. She was returned to the US in May 2024 and detained upon arrival at JFK airport.
She faces up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted.