AL-BAB, Syria — Syrian security forces have detained American Islamist journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem in northern Syria, according to two people familiar with the matter, amid a widening crackdown on foreign Islamist voices critical of the country’s new leadership.

Abdul Kareem was detained on Monday in the town of Al-Bab in Aleppo province, the sources said. The Syrian information ministry, an interior ministry spokesperson and a spokesperson for the U.S. special envoy to Syria did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A former stand-up comedian in the United States, Abdul Kareem has lived in Syria since 2012 and worked with multiple foreign media outlets during the war. He later emerged as a prominent voice among foreign Islamists, frequently amplifying hardline views.

He has been openly critical of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who once led Al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria, accusing the new government of retreating from Islamic values since taking power and pursuing closer ties with Washington.

In August, Abdul Kareem petitioned Syrian authorities to grant citizenship to foreign jihadists who fought alongside the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, which led the rebel offensive that ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad about a year ago.

The presence of foreign fighters has remained a sensitive issue for the new government. Many countries have refused to repatriate citizens who joined militant groups, while some Syrians have expressed concern about their continued presence in the country.

Since taking power, al-Sharaa’s government has gradually narrowed the space for foreign Islamist activists, detaining several individuals with large online followings, according to people familiar with the situation.