A Bay Area 22-year-old was apprehended at San Francisco International Airport, allegedly on his way to join al Qaeda affiliate al Nusra because he was upset that the Supreme Court passed marriage equality in the U.S.
Adam Shafi purchased tickets from SFO to Istanbul after considering joining ISIS last year, an organization he ultimately felt was too brutal and killed too many Muslims.
It should be noted that al Nursa executes adulterers and regime soldiers.
“Adam was discouraged with the politics and direction of the United States, citing the recent Supreme Court decision allowing gay marriage, and wanted to be in a country of people of similar mindset and religion as himself,” the criminal complaint against him reads.
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Shafi’s parents first alerted authorities to their son’s activities and potential recruitment.
When Adam snuck off on a family trip to Egypt last summer, his father contacted the U.S. embassy that he might be attempting to reach Syria.
Though he eventually showed up again, claiming to have been sightseeing, suspicions remained.
Shafi and his friends were following the extremist imams online, and a phone tap by the feds revealed that he was praising al Nursa as the only group following proper Islamic law.
Once at the airport on his way to Istanbul, a fellow passenger reported seeing him suspiciously shaking and mumbling.
Feds took him aside for an interview where Adam said he was going to help Syrian refugees in Turkey.
“Adam claimed some people helped by building a house, while others picked up a gun,” an agent wrote in the complaint.
Adam was arrested and denied bail because he is believed to be too much of a flight risk.
h/t: Daily Beast