Calgary

Calgary father charged with ISIS kidnapping released on bail

A Calgary man facing four terrorism charges, accused of fighting with ISIS for more than a year before returning to Canada, has been released on bail.

Hussein Borhot, 34, accused of participating in a kidnapping, helping ISIS in Syria

Exterior image of the Calgary Court Centre.
A Calgary man facing 4 terrorism charges, accused of fighting with ISIS in 2013 and 2014, has been released on bail. (Meghan Grant/CBC)

A Calgary man facing four terrorism charges, accused of fighting with ISIS for more than a year before returning to Canada, has been released on bail.

Last week, Alberta RCMP's Integrated National Enforcement Team laid the charges against Hussein Sobhe Borhot, 34.

The father of four has been living in Calgary's northeast with his family.

Between May 2013 and June 2014, Borhot travelled to Syria, where he joined ISIS and received training from the terrorist group, police say. He is also accused of carrying out a kidnapping on behalf of the group.

Provincial court Judge Anne Brown released Borhot on a number of strict conditions including that he wear an ankle tracking device that his family will pay for.

Prosecutor Kent Brown opposed Borhot's release while defence lawyer John Phillips argued his client should be granted bail.

All of the evidence presented during the hearing is covered by a publication ban.

ISIS is the militant group that took over territory in Iraq and Syria and implemented a harsh form of Islamic law. The terrorist group is known for graphic videos documenting beheadings of journalists and aid workers.

The United Nations has accused ISIS of crimes against humanity for carrying out mass executions, abducting women and girls to use as sex slaves and using child soldiers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Meghan Grant

CBC Calgary crime reporter

Meghan Grant is a justice affairs reporter. She has been covering courts, crime and stories of police accountability in southern Alberta for more than a decade. Send Meghan a story tip at meghan.grant@cbc.ca.