“Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell today [3/23/2023] announced the sentencing of TREVOR WILLIAM FORREST, a/k/a ‘SHAIKH ABDULLAH FAISAL,’ a/k/a ‘SHAIKH FAISAL,’ 59, for recruiting, soliciting, and inspiring students and followers to pledge allegiance to, travel to, join and commit acts of terrorism on behalf of the Islamic State, a/k/a ‘ISIS’ or ‘ISIL.’ Faisal is sentenced to 18 years in state prison. …
Following a two-month long trial in New York State Supreme Court, FAISAL was convicted on all counts on January 26, 2023, after two hours of deliberation. …
As proven in the first-ever New York State terrorism trial, FAISAL used his public profile and personal network as the top English-speaking recruiter for ISIS to solicit and provide material support for the Islamic State’s acts of violence and terrorism against others through:
– violent jihadist advocacy and ISIS recruitment through different writings, speeches and recordings
– tradecraft instructions to others on how best to travel to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS and how best to avoid suspicion or arrest
– providing contact information of foreign fighters to facilitate entry into and support in ISIS regions and acceptance by ISIS partners
– strategizing with Islamic State fighters on battlefield tactics
– creating opportunities for women jihadi aspirants to meet and marry ISIS adherents
– inspiring others to commit their own violent acts in allegiance to ISIS.”
– District Attorney, New York County, “D.A. Bragg, P.C. Sewell: Radical Cleric Shaikh Faisal Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Recruiting Supporters and Facilitating Efforts to Join ISIS,” manhattanda.org, March 23, 2023
Editor’s Note: According to most historians of the Islamic State (also referred to as ISIS, ISIL, and Daesh), “the group emerged out of al-Qaeda in Iraq as a response to the U.S. invasion in 2003.” See Hassan Hassan, “The True Origins of ISIS,” theatlantic.com, November 30, 2018, for more information.