A Canadian man was sentenced to life in jail by a US courtroom on Friday for conspiring to offer materials assist to the so-called “Islamic State” (IS), ensuing within the demise of hostages.
Born in Saudi Arabia, 39-year-old Mohammed Khalifa was mentioned to be a key participant within the terrorist group’s propaganda, and narrated a number of violent movies. He pleaded responsible in December 2021.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ) indictment, he grew up in Toronto and left Canada in 2013 to affix IS in Syria, and shortly took on an necessary position within the propaganda cell, significantly attributable to his mastery of English and Arabic.
What did Khalifa do in IS?
The propaganda cell was notably behind the manufacturing of movies of international hostages being executed, together with US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, who had been each decapitated in 2014.
Khalifa additionally offered the English voiceover for 2 movies from 2014 and 2017, the place he’s seen executing Syrian troopers. The DOJ referred to as these movies “exceptionally violent.”
He can be the alleged narrator of recruitment movies exhibiting IS assaults in France and Belgium, which urge others to participate in related acts of violence.
When was he captured?
Khalifa was captured in January 2019, by Kurdish-dominated Syrian forces allied with the US.
He did an interview with Canada’s CBC whereas he was in jail in Syria, the place he expressed no regret for his actions. He mentioned he wished to return to Canada along with his spouse and three youngsters, however on the situation that he wouldn’t be tried there.
He was transferred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in October of final 12 months earlier than he pleaded responsible.
Khalifa’s life sentence was ordered by US District Judge T.S. Ellis of the Eastern District of Virginia.