Canadian court convicts Calgary man of fighting for ISIS in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A Canadian court convicted on Monday a Calgary resident of multiple terrorism charges for joining ISIS in Syria more than a decade ago, concluding a lengthy legal process marked by delays, contested evidence, and national-security proceedings.
Jamal Taan Borhot, 35, was found guilty of three terrorism-related offences for spending nearly a year in Syria between May 2013 and April 2014.
Court of King’s Bench Justice Corina Dario ruled that travel records, social media communications, and intercepted calls proved he had trained, fought, and held a command role within ISIS.
Following the verdict, Dario revoked Borhot’s bail and sheriffs immediately took him into custody. His sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
The case is linked to a broader investigation launched by Canadian authorities in 2020. Borhot and his cousin, Hussein Borhot, were both charged with terrorism offences that year. Hussein pleaded guilty in 2022 and received a 12-year prison sentence.
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Borhot created ISIS propaganda videos, attempted to recruit others, and discussed his activities in intercepted phone calls with family members. The court noted that Borhot had previously denied ever traveling to Syria.
Justice Dario said the Facebook messages Borhot sent to associates promoted ISIS and reflected “hatred toward non-Muslims,” adding that he was “prepared to both kill and die” for extremist beliefs.
Canadian authorities have prosecuted several individuals for joining ISIS in Syria, part of broader efforts to address foreign fighter cases that emerged during the height of the group’s expansion.