ISIS SYMPATHIZER SENTENCED: Six Years for Targeting Christian Churches Across Three States
Zimnako Salah, 46, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced on November 7 to six years in federal prison in connection with his plot targeting Christian churches. In March 2025, a jury in Sacramento convicted Salah of strapping a backpack around the toilet of a Christian church in Roseville with the intent to convey a hoax bomb threat and to obstruct the free exercise of religion of the congregants who worshipped there.
The jury's verdict included a special finding that Salah targeted the church because of the religion of the people who worshipped there, making the offense a hate crime.
According to evidence at trial, from September to November 2023, Salah traveled to four Christian churches in Arizona, California, and Colorado, wearing black backpacks. At two of those churches, Salah planted those backpacks, placing congregants in fear that they contained bombs. At the other two churches, Salah was confronted by security before he got the chance to plant those backpacks.
While Salah had been making bomb threats by planting backpacks in Christian churches, he had been building a bomb capable of fitting in a backpack. During a search of Salah's storage unit, an FBI Bomb Technician seized items that an FBI Bomb Expert testified at trial served as component parts of an improvised explosive device. Inside the storage unit, they found propane canisters, strips of duct tape with nails attached, wiring and wire cutters, a battery, and what appeared to be an Islamic Koran.
A search of Salah's social media records revealed that he had consumed extremist propaganda online. Specifically, those records showed that Salah had searched for videos of "Infidels dying," and he had watched videos depicting ISIS terrorists murdering people. In a cellphone video taken days before the crimes of conviction, Defendant Salah declared, "America. We are going to destroy it".
A man who at one time lived with Salah in Phoenix told investigators that Salah had a negative reaction to a hat he wore displaying an American flag, saying "F*** this country. I hate America. This country went to Iraq and killed a lot of people". Salah told investigators he was a Sunni from Northern Iraq who had been living in Arizona for approximately 20 years.
"Today's sentencing sends a clear message: those who target people because of their faith will face the full force of federal law," said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.
"Salah's seeming ultimate goal to bomb a Christian church would have resulted in many deaths and injuries if his plan had not been thwarted," said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant. "Thanks to the action of church security, local law enforcement, and the FBI, this defendant was stopped before he had a chance to carry out the crimes he sought to commit".
FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel stated "The FBI has zero tolerance for those who target Americans based on their religious beliefs. Salah sought to instill fear and disrupt Christian communities across California, Colorado, and Arizona".
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
He searched for "infidels dying." Watched ISIS murder videos. Built an actual bomb with propane, nails, and duct tape. And planted fake bombs in churches while planning the real thing.
Six years.
That's what attempted mass murder of Christians gets you. Six years for terrorizing congregations across three states. Six years for a hate crime that would have killed dozens if he'd succeeded.
The evidence is overwhelming. IED components in his storage unit. "America. We are going to destroy it" on his cell phone. Twenty years in Arizona hating the country that gave him refuge. A Sunni from Northern Iraq who called Americans infidels.
This wasn't a prank. This was jihad with a trial run.
He tested security at four churches. Planted fake bombs at two. Got stopped at two others. All while building the real thing.
One church security agent carried the backpack outside thinking she might "meet Jesus today." Children were in Sunday school classes. Families were in worship. He wanted them dead because they were Christians.
And the sentence? Six years. He'll be out before those kids graduate high school.
Assistant Attorney General Dhillon says it "sends a clear message." Does it? Because the message I'm hearing is that attempted Christian genocide gets you less time than tax fraud.
Compare this to January 6 defendants. Grandmothers who walked through open doors got more time. But an ISIS sympathizer building bombs to massacre churchgoers? Six years.
U.S. Attorney Grant says "many deaths and injuries" were prevented. He's right. Thanks to church security. Not thanks to the legal system that lets terrorists walk in six years.
The FBI says "zero tolerance." Six years says otherwise.
TAKE ACTION
Protect Your Church
- Implement Church Security – Train security teams, install cameras, and establish protocols for suspicious activity. This case proves vigilant security saves lives.
- FBI Tips Line – Report suspicious activity targeting churches
Phone: 1-800-CALL-FBI | Website: tips.fbi.gov - Sheepdog Church Security – Training and resources for church security teams
Website: www.sheepdogchurchsecurity.net - Contact Your Representatives – Demand harsher sentences for religiously-motivated terrorism. Six years is not justice.
- Alliance Defending Freedom – Legal support for churches facing threats
Website: www.adflegal.org | Phone: 800-835-5233 - Support Victims – If your church was targeted, report it immediately and document everything for federal hate crime prosecution
DEUS VULT
