A Minnesota man who once fought for the Islamic State group in Syria is awaiting his sentencing after expressing remorse for his involvement with the extremist organization. Abelhamid Al-Madioum, now 27, has been cooperating with federal authorities, leading to a recommendation of a 12-year prison term from prosecutors.
Al-Madioum was recruited by ISIS at the age of 18 in 2014 and traveled to Syria, where he became a soldier for the group until he was injured in an explosion in Iraq. Following his surrender to U.S.-backed rebels in 2019, he returned to the U.S. in 2020 and pleaded guilty to providing material support to a designated terrorist organization in 2021.
In a letter to the U.S. District Judge, Al-Madioum expressed regret for his actions, stating that joining ISIS was the biggest mistake of his life. He emphasized that he no longer believes in the group's extremist ideology and hopes to contribute to future counterterrorism and deradicalization efforts.
Prosecutors acknowledged Al-Madioum's cooperation with U.S. authorities in national security investigations and his acceptance of responsibility for his crime. While they recommended a 12-year sentence, they highlighted that he actively participated in violent actions by taking up arms for ISIS.
Al-Madioum, a naturalized U.S. citizen, is among a few Americans who have been repatriated from conflict zones in Syria and Iraq to face charges related to terrorist activities. His upbringing in a loving and nonreligious family in Minnesota's St. Louis Park was detailed in a defense memo, which also described the hardships he faced while living under ISIS rule.
Al-Madioum's experiences, including losing his arm in combat and witnessing the deaths of his wives, have significantly impacted him. His children, who were found in a Syrian orphanage, will be cared for by his parents upon their arrival in the U.S.
