Chicago Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Aiding ISIS as 'Press Person'

Ashraf Al Safoo received one of the stiffest terrorism sentences in recent memory at Chicago's federal courthouse.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:39pm

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An extreme close-up of a computer keyboard and mouse, the harsh lighting casting dramatic shadows and highlighting the textured surfaces, conceptually representing the digital tools used to facilitate terrorism.The harsh, unforgiving light of the camera flash exposes the tools used to wage a digital war, as a Chicago man faces decades in prison for his role in aiding a global terrorist organization.Chicago Today

A federal judge sentenced Ashraf Al Safoo, a former Chicago software developer, to 25 years in prison for functioning as a 'press person' for the ISIS terrorist organization. Al Safoo was convicted of conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist group, among other crimes, for his role in creating propaganda and hacking social media accounts to spread ISIS media.

Why it matters

The lengthy sentence handed down to Al Safoo highlights the federal government's continued crackdown on individuals who provide any form of support to designated terrorist organizations, even if they did not directly participate in violent acts. The case also underscores the challenges in prosecuting 'keyboard warriors' who engage in online activities to further the goals of extremist groups.

The details

Prosecutors argued that Al Safoo's 'apparent bloodlust' led him to manage the Khattab Media Foundation, which operated on Telegram to serve ISIS's media needs. Al Safoo supported ISIS by working on their campaigns, creating propaganda that promoted violence and terrorism, and hacking Twitter accounts to spread ISIS content. The judge rejected the defense's characterization of Al Safoo as a 'keyboard warrior,' stating that his actions 'facilitated and rooted on' the 'murder and destruction of other human beings' by the terrorist group.

  • Al Safoo was charged by prosecutors in 2018.
  • Al Safoo was convicted in a bench trial last year.
  • Al Safoo was sentenced to 25 years in prison on April 16, 2026.

The players

Ashraf Al Safoo

A 41-year-old former Chicago software developer who was convicted of conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State.

Judge John Blakey

The U.S. District Judge who sentenced Al Safoo to 25 years in prison, stating that his actions 'facilitated and rooted on' the 'murder and destruction of other human beings' by ISIS.

James Vanzant

Al Safoo's defense attorney, who argued that his client was a 'keyboard warrior' who 'sat behind a computer and he wrote articles,' rather than directly participating in violent acts.

Thomas Peabody

The Assistant U.S. Attorney who argued that Al Safoo's 'apparent bloodlust' led him to manage the Khattab Media Foundation, which operated to serve ISIS's media needs.

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What they’re saying

“'While you did not pull a trigger or detonate a bomb or behead someone with your own hand, by your own knife, you engaged in a course of conduct that facilitated and rooted them on.'”

— Judge John Blakey, U.S. District Judge

“'I reap what I sow.'”

— Ashraf Al Safoo

What’s next

The judge's decision to hand down a 25-year sentence to Al Safoo is expected to be closely watched, as it is among the stiffest terrorism-related sentences in recent memory at Chicago's federal courthouse. Legal experts will likely analyze the ruling for its potential impact on future prosecutions of individuals accused of providing online support to designated terrorist groups.

The takeaway

This case highlights the federal government's aggressive stance against any form of material support for terrorist organizations, even if it does not involve direct participation in violent acts. It also underscores the challenges in prosecuting 'keyboard warriors' who engage in online activities to further the goals of extremist groups, as the line between free speech and criminal conduct can be blurred.