Two Minnesota Defendants Barred From De-Radicalization Program

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A federal judge has denied a motion by two Minnesota men convicted of plotting to go to Syria to join the Islamic State group to be allowed to participate in a de-radicalization program.

Abdirahman Daud and Guled Omar face possible life sentences after being found guilty by a jury in May. The rehabilitation program was offered to six other defendants who earlier pleaded guilty to conspiring to support a foreign terrorist organization.

U.S. District Judge Michael Davis, who pioneered use of the de-radicalization program, denied Daud's and Omar's motions on Tuesday.

The program was developed by a German expert, Daniel Koehler, who works with neo-Nazis and other extremists.

Davis says court personnel have now been fully trained in Koehler's risk-assessment methods, so there's no need to hire Koehler to evaluate Daud and Omar.