Calgarian convicted of terrorism charges for going to Syria, joining ISIS
Jamal Borhot was arrested in September 2020 after a lengthy RCMP investigation
Author of the article:Kevin Martin
Published Dec 01, 2025 • Last updated 6 hours ago • 3 minute read
The Calgary Courts Centre in downtown Calgary in 2024.
The Calgary Courts Centre in downtown Calgary in 2024. Jim Wells/Postmedia
Calgarian Jamal Borhot participated in terrorism activities with ISIS when he travelled to Syria in 2013 and 2014, a judge ruled Monday.
Calgary Court of King’s Bench Justice Corina Dario found Crown prosecutors proved Borhot was guilty of three charges of participating in the activities of a terrorist group.
Borhot, who was free on bail which Dario revoked at the Crown’s request, was arrested in September 2020 after a lengthy RCMP investigation.
His trial began in April 2024 and lasted 40 days, with large portions of the hearing held behind closed doors due to issues involving national security.
Early into the trial, defence counsel Pawel Milzcarek had sought a judicial stay of his client’s case based on unreasonable delay. At that time, the trial was scheduled to conclude at the end of May 2024.
Borhot’s cousin, Hussein Borhot, was arrested several months earlier and given a 12-year sentence in May 2022, after admitting to becoming an ISIS fighter while in the Middle East.
Hussein Borhot
Calgarian Hussein Borhot leaves the Calgary Courts Centre on Thursday, April 28, 2022. Jim Wells/Postmedia
In his final submissions before Dario, lead Crown prosecutor Kent Brown argued the evidence in the case established Borhot and his cousin travelled to Syria in May 2013, via Frankfurt, Germany, and Istanbul, Turkey.
Once inside Turkey, Brown alleged Borhot joined one of three terrorist organizations — the al Nusra Front, ISIS or al-Qaida — and engaged in training before taking part in fighting in Syria.
At some point in the 11 months Borhot was in Syria, he either ended up with ISIS or was with that group from the start, Brown argued.
During that time, he not only engaged in fighting but took part in administrative and leadership duties, and encouraged others via Facebook communications to join him in Syria, Brown submitted.
Dario agreed the prosecution had shown Borhot, 35, knowingly joined a terrorist organization for the purpose of establishing a Caliphate State in Syria and beyond.
“The accused knew he was part of a terrorist organization,” Dario said.
“The Crown has proved beyond a reasonable doubt the accused participated in, or contributed to, the activities of the Islamic State.”
Milczarek had argued the Crown’s evidence against his client was circumstantial and relied on unsubstantiated claims in communications with others that he had gone to Syria and joined the fighting.
“At the end of the day, the Crown’s case has failed to prove that the guilt of the accused is the only rational inference available on all of the evidence before the court,” Milczarek said in his written submissions.
“This is a natural extension of the fact that they have provided the court with no physical, digital, forensic or eyewitness evidence proving any part of the stories Mr. Borhot is alleged to have told about his activities,” Milczarek said.
“Despite Crown submissions, it remains reasonably possible that Mr. Borhot’s alleged account is a fabrication created to gain status within his community of peers and family.”
Dario will hear sentencing arguments on Jan. 16. Although the maximum sentence for each charge is 10 years, Brown noted consecutive terms may be warranted.
“He could be looking at a very significant hit,” Brown said outside court.
Milczarek said the result was not what his client was hoping for.
“To say that the family and Mr. Borhot are anything but devastated would be an understatement,” he said.
KMartin@postmedia.com
X: @KMartinCourts
Judge to hand down verdict in case of Calgary terrorism suspect Jamal Borhot, who faces three terrorism-related charges.
torontosun.com
apple.news
