From about April 2015 to June 2018, Ibraheem Musaibli, 28, of Dearborn, Michigan, was allegedly “attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham,” according to the Department of Justice.
Musaibli, who was born and raised in the United States, was arrested by Syrian Democratic Forces and was turned over to U.S. authorities.
According to the report, “Musaibli knowingly provided and attempted to provide material support to ISIS, in the form of personnel and services, knowing that ISIS is a terrorist organization and that ISIS engages in terrorism.”
“I am confident that he will face justice for his crimes, and I hope that his case sends a clear message that we will hold our citizens accountable who are apprehended overseas and tried to join a terrorist organization such as ISIS,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “I am also grateful to our law enforcement and military partners who made this prosecution possible.”
According to his family, the story is very different than what the United States government is saying.
“My brother REFUSED and they took his U.S passport and dragged him into the hell of war," his sister, Abdullah Musaibli, told The Detroit News. "When he refused to support them they imprisoned him, and he was left starving and fending for himself in an ISIS prison.”
His father, Izzy Musaibli, said, “For the past two years, Ibraheem is crying for help to get out of there, he was very disappointed of what he saw and how they understand Islam.” He continued, "Every time he tried to escape he end up in ISIS prison. They took his passport from him the second he was preaching against ISIS' deadly ideology."
Also arrested was a U.S. woman, Samantha Elhassani, “who has been charged with making false statements to the FBI,” according to Reuters.
“Both defendants arrived in Indiana on Tuesday. Musaibli was transferred to Michigan, and Elhassani, also known as Samantha Sally, will appear in federal court in Hammond, Indiana, at a later date," the report added.
The Defense Department reportedly says that the Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by the United States, have nearly 600 foreign terrorist fighters in custody from about 40 different countries.