Afghan man tied to Abbey Gate bombing sentenced to 20 years for supporting ISIS

An Afghan man arrested last year in connection with the Abbey Gate suicide bombing during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison.

Mohammad Sharifullah was convicted in April by a federal jury for providing material support to ISIS-K after admitting in interviews with the FBI that he aided them in plotting dozens of attacks over the course of roughly a decade.

The jury deadlocked, however, on whether Sharifullah's support was directly responsible for the deaths of 13 American service members and approximately 160 Afghan civilians who were killed in the suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in August 2021.

Defense attorneys had argued the government had no other direct evidence connecting Sharifullah to the Abbey Gate attack besides his own statements to the FBI, and claimed their client was likely under duress because the interview was conducted after his arrest by Pakistani authorities who they claim have a reputation for torturing detainees accused of terrorism.

President Donald Trump previously described Sharifullah as an "architect" of the bombing when he announced his arrest during his joint address to Congress at the start of his second administration. 

At Wednesday's hearing, U.S. district judge Anthony Trenga said he believed the government had provided ample evidence for him to consider Sharifullah's role in the Abbey Gate bombing as among the numerous other attacks he had previously admitted playing a direct role in over the years as a member of ISIS-K that claimed hundreds of lives.

The 2 1/2-hour hearing was heart wrenching as family members of the 13 service members killed in the 2021 attack took to the podium to tearfully plead for Judge Trenga to sentence Sharifullah to the maximum prison time of 20 years behind bars.

"No justice will be enough to mend my broken heart," said Paula Knauss, the mother of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss. "May the Lord give this man the mercy that he did not give my son or others." 

Alicia Lopez, the mother of U.S. Marine Corporal Hunter Lopez, said, "1846 days ago this animal put into motion events that would ultimately kill my son." She added, "These animals will not stop until they are held accountable... Know when death finds you, Allah will not accept you and you will go to Hell." 

In one remarkable moment, Mark Schmitz, the father of Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, asked for Sharifullah to look at him as he told him he forgave him for the role he played in his son's death.  

"I forgive you," Schmitz said, holding back tears. "I will not carry my hatred for you the rest of my life. I will not give you my heart. I will not give you my faith. I will not give you my remaining years." 

In handing down the sentence, Trenga said there was "no doubt" that Sharifullah was a "dedicated terrorist" and appeared to express frustration that he could only sentence him to a maximum of 20 years. 

"If I could pose a sentence separately for each of your victims, I would," Trenga said. 

Sharifullah declined to speak through his interpreter when given the opportunity and made no visible reactions to the statements from the victims' family members or when his sentence was ultimately announced.