Abelhamid Al-Madioum, a Minnesota man who once fought for the Islamic State (IS) in Syria, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison. During his sentencing, Al-Madioum expressed deep remorse and apologized to his family. He had cooperated with federal authorities, which influenced the prosecution to recommend a lesser sentence than the maximum 20 years. U.S. District Judge Ann Montgomery, recognizing the uniqueness of the case, emphasized Al-Madioum's journey from a supportive home in Minnesota to becoming part of a notorious terrorist organization.
Al-Madioum, who grew up in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, joined IS in 2014 at the age of 18. He left his family during a visit to Morocco in 2015, traveled to Syria, and fought for IS until he was severely injured in an explosion. After his injury, he utilized his computer skills for IS. His cooperation with the U.S. government included aiding in other terrorism cases, which the prosecution confirmed. Despite the seriousness of his crimes, his attorney argued that Al-Madioum had renounced extremist ideology years ago and was heavily influenced by IS propaganda as a teenager.
Throughout his time with IS, Al-Madioum experienced significant personal losses, including the death of his first wife. After surrendering to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and being held under harsh conditions, he was repatriated to the U.S. and pleaded guilty to providing material support to a terrorist organization. His two sons, who were rescued from a Syrian orphanage, were granted custody to his parents. In court, Al-Madioum thanked the government for giving him another chance and expressed regret for his actions, particularly towards his family.