A man from Mississauga serving a 40-year prison term in the U.S. for terrorism-related offenses has been handed an additional 50-year sentence for assaulting two corrections officers, as per an announcement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Monday.
Abdulrahman El Bahnasawy, aged 28, admitted guilt in November to multiple charges including assault, assault with intent to commit murder, possession of contraband in prison, and supporting ISIS, according to a press release from the attorney’s office in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The incident in question occurred in 2020 at a federal penitentiary in Pennsylvania, where El Bahnasawy attacked two officers using a makeshift weapon crafted from a steel desk part in his cell. He inflicted stab wounds on one officer’s head and face and injured another officer’s hand during the altercation.
One of the officers lost his right eye due to the attack. Following El Bahnasawy’s restraint, a note pledging allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and ISIS was discovered in his sock.
The sentencing aims to ensure El Bahnasawy remains incarcerated for an extended period, minimizing potential harm, as stated by John A. Eisenberg, assistant attorney general for national security.
In a letter submitted during his sentencing for the 2020 assaults, El Bahnasawy expressed deep remorse for the incident, attributing it to mental health challenges exacerbated by solitary confinement without appropriate medication and care.
El Bahnasawy’s family and U.S. experts have pushed for his transfer to a Canadian prison due to his mental health condition. He is currently housed at The Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) Florence, a supermaximum security prison known for its stringent confinement measures.
Efforts are underway for El Bahnasawy’s transfer to Canada, with his family engaged in legal proceedings involving Canadian authorities to facilitate the move. Corrections Canada stated that international transfer requests are carefully reviewed.
El Bahnasawy’s U.S. attorney criticized the prosecution, highlighting the handling of his client’s mental health during the legal process. Requests for comments from the U.S. Department of Justice are pending.
