May 2, 2024 – 11:00 PM – World
A Moroccan American from Minnesota has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for membership of the terrorist organization Daesh in Syria. Abdelhamid Al-Madioum, 27 years old, fought for Daesh for two months before he was injured and captured. During his trial, he showed remorse and emphasized how he had changed since his radicalization.
Abdelhamid Al-Madioum left Minnesota in 2014 to join Daesh, motivated by Bashar Al Assad’s regime’s alleged oppression of Muslims in Syria. He was soon injured in an explosion and spent 18 months in captivity before being repatriated to the United States by the FBI in 2023.
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During the court hearing, Al-Madioum showed remorse for his actions. He described his time with Daesh as a “big mistake” and highlighted his transformation since then. Now a father of four, he says he wants to dedicate his life to promoting peace and understanding.
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Prosecutors acknowledged Al-Madioum’s remorse but emphasized the seriousness of his crimes. They alleged that he had used violence and encouraged others to join Daesh. The judge ultimately imposed a sentence of 12 years in prison, lower than the 20 years requested by prosecutors. The judge took into consideration Al-Madioum’s remorse, his cooperation with the investigation and his difficult circumstances in Syria.
