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Flashback to 2016 when Ilhan Omar begged a judge to show leniency to nine Somalis who tried to join ISIS

Flashback to 2016 when Ilhan Omar pleaded with a judge to show leniency to nine Somalis in Minnesota who were charged for trying to join ISIS.

In a November 2016 letter to U.S. District Judge Michael Davis, who was presiding over the sentencing of nine Somali-American men convicted of trying to join ISIS, then-State Representative-elect Ilhan Omar advocated for leniency and a "restorative approach" to justice, arguing that harsh sentences would fuel extremism.

Key Arguments from Ilhan Omar's Letter Omar's letter focused on compassion, rehabilitation, and the potential negative impact of long sentences on preventing extremist recruitment. She argued that a system of compassion and inclusion would be a better deterrent to fanaticism than punitive measures.

Omar expressed concern that lengthy sentences would be perceived as life sentences and could lead to released prisoners being viewed with distrust.

She also suggested that harsh sentences could inadvertently contribute to an environment where extremism thrives by validating extremist narratives about American rejection. Omar advocated for a restorative approach that addresses the root causes of criminality, comparing it to the treatment of chemical dependency and suggesting that the desire for violence stems from "systematic alienation". Omar was among thirteen individuals who sent letters to the judge seeking shorter sentences.

Prosecutors, however, contended that repeatedly attempting to join a terrorist group was not a minor error and that federal guidelines required severe penalties.

Ultimately, the defendants who did not cooperate with prosecutors received substantial sentences, including Abdirahman Yasin Daud, for whom Omar specifically wrote, who was sentenced to 30 years

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Flashback to 2016 when Ilhan Omar begged a judge to show leniency to nine Somalis who tried to join ISIS

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