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Former DePaul University Student Convicted on Charges of Helping ISIS

Former DePaul University Student Convicted on Charges of Helping ISIS

“maintained contact, coordinated with, and worked at the direction of ISIS, prosecutors said”

This person was born in the United States. What leads an American down a path like this?

The Washington Examiner reports:

Former Chicago area college student convicted after helping ISIS

A former college student from the Chicago area was convicted Monday on charges relating to the student’s attempt to provide material assistance to ISIS, authorities said.

Thomas Osadzinski, a 22-year-old former student at DePaul University, was arrested in 2019 after developing computer code that would allow ISIS to skirt software blocking it from spreading propaganda, prosecutors said.

Osadzinski was born in the Chicago suburbs but detained in a sting operation while living in the city, according to the prosecution.

The former college student’s case centered on freedom of speech, not terrorism , according to the closing argument of Osadzinski’s attorney Joshua Herman.

“Liking ISIS is not illegal,” Herman said.

Still, Osadzinski maintained contact, coordinated with, and worked at the direction of ISIS, prosecutors said.

He lauded his skills in communication, talents behind the keyboard, and ability to speak Arabic, supposedly suggesting he would use a gun or explosives if asked, a report said.

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Comments

“Liking ISIS is not illegal,” Herman said. No, only liking Donald Trump is illegal.

The Friendly Grizzly | October 20, 2021 at 7:13 am

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What leads an American down a path like this?

Failure to pledge the flag and pray in school.

Liking ISIS isn’t illegal. That’s perfectly true, and nobody suggested otherwise. Nor is it illegal to give ISIS moral or verbal or political support. But it is illegal to give it material support, even if that support happens to take the form of speech.