Chicago man convicted of using social media to recruit for ISIS, encourage attacks

CHICAGO — A Chicago man has been convicted of using social media to ry to recruit for the terrorist organization ISIS and encourage attacks.

Following a bench trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago this year, 41-year-old Ashraf Al Safoo was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, one count of conspiracy to transmit threats in interstate commerce, one count of conspiracy to intentionally access a protected computer without authorization, four counts of intentionally accessing a protected computer without authorization, and four counts of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, Andrew Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois announced on Friday.

According to prosecutors, Al Safoo, who has been in custody since 2018, was a leader of the Khattab Media Foundation, an online organization that swore allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and created and disseminated threats and ISIS propaganda on social media and other digital platforms.

ISIS has been designated by the United States government as a foreign terrorist organization.

Prosecutors said while acting as a leader, Al Safoo created and posted pro-ISIS videos, articles, essays and infographics at the direction of, and in coordination with the Islamic State.

The content shared by Khattab promoted violent jihad on behalf of ISIS, prosecutors said.

In one of the posts, Al Safoo encouraged Khattab members to post pro-ISIS information “to cause confusion and spread terror within the hearts of those who disbelieved.”

In a separate post, Al Safoo wrote, “Work hard, brothers, edit the issue into short clips, take the pictures out of it and publish the efforts of your brothers in the pages of the apostates.  Participate in the war, and spread terror, the [Islamic] State does not want you to watch it only, rather, it incites you, and if you are unable to, use it to incite others.”

Additionally, prosecutors said many of Khattab’s posts encouraged “lone wolf” attacks in Western countries and included images of violence, celebrations of terrorist attacks and mass shootings in the United States.

“Today’s conviction demonstrates that the safety and security of the American public is always a top priority for me and my entire Office,” Boutros said on Friday. “The prosecution of Ashraf Al Safoo is a testament to the vigilance and dedication of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners who stand watch to disrupt and prevent dangerous threats before they materialize.  We will vigorously pursue and bring to justice those who provide material support–in whatever form–to terrorist organizations.”

Al Safoo is set to appear for sentencing on Oct. 9, 2025, and convictions against him carry a maximum sentence of 130 years in federal prison.