Detroit-area man 'humiliated' by his Islamic State threats


Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

DETROIT (AP) — A Detroit-area man who works at his father's pizzeria repeatedly apologized Monday for making provocative threats in support of the Islamic State group and insisted he meant no harm to anyone.

Khalil Abu Rayyan, 22, didn't commit terrorism, but federal prosecutors are asking for a severe punishment — eight years in prison — for a gun crime and making false statements to get a firearm in 2015. They point to his online messages with an undercover FBI operative as proof that a long sentence is necessary to protect the public.

"I am so ashamed. I have humiliated myself," Rayyan told a judge.

Rayyan sent photos of a beheading to his brother, watched "shock and awe" terror videos, and said he was willing to attack a church and a police officer in a hospital.

"He lacks self-control," Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Waterstreet said.

U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh said he needed more time before sentencing Rayyan. He's considering two portrayals of Rayyan: Is he a dangerous young man or simply foolish and insecure?

"That conduct is not who I am or what I believe in. ... ISIS has nothing to do with Islam," Rayyan said in court in a loud, firm voice. "I have shamed my faith. I have shamed the Muslim people."

Defense attorney Todd Shanker asked for Rayyan to receive 15 months in prison, which would likely mean no additional time behind bars because he would get credit for time in custody since his arrest in 2016.

"They're terrible statements," Shanker said of Rayyan's past words, "but they're false statements."

___

Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwhiteap

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Most recent Religion stories

Related topics

Religion
ED WHITE

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast