An Italian rapper who traveled to Syria to join the Islamic State was formally designated as a terrorist by the State Department on Wednesday.
The designation imposes U.S. sanctions against Anas el-Abboubi, known in Italy by his hip-hop stage name, McKhalif. The State Department said in a statement that he "poses a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism."
Italian authorities detained el-Abboubi in 2013 for planning a terrorist attack in Northern Italy and recruiting people for "militant activities" in Syria. Police released him from custody after two weeks and he fled to Syria soon after.
The State Department estimated that there are some 50 Italian foreign fighters fighting alongside ISIS in Syria.
MTV profiled el-Abboubi in a March 2012 special called, "In the Rhythm of Allah: The Story of McKhalif," where the rapper discussed his role as a Muslim-Italian artist, according to the Associated Press.