Calgary man sentenced to 16 years for joining Islamic State

A Calgary man who travelled to the Middle East and joined the Islamic State terrorist organization has been sentenced to 16 years in prison, with parole eligibility only after serving at least half of the sentence.

A judge handed down the sentence to Jamal Borhot following his conviction in December on three counts related to participating in the activities of a terrorist group. The court heard that Borhot left Canada in 2013 and travelled to Syria with a cousin, where he knowingly and willingly aligned himself with ISIS.

Evidence presented at trial showed the 35-year-old took part in violent acts, actively encouraged others to join the extremist organization and expressed readiness to kill in support of its ideology. Prosecutors argued his actions went beyond passive association and reflected a sustained commitment to the group’s objectives.

The case is one of a small number in Canada involving successful terrorism prosecutions tied to the conflict in Syria and Iraq. Federal authorities have said such cases underscore the long-term security risks posed by Canadians who joined extremist groups abroad and later faced prosecution at home.