The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

British Family Reportedly Joins IS In Syria

A family of 12 from Luton has reportedly confirmed they are now in Syria and under the control of Islamic State.

In the 500-word “press release”, published on an IS website, Muhammed Abdul Mannan and his wife are quoted defending their decision to take three children into the war zone.

The statement, which has not been verified, goes on to say they are “free from the corruption and oppression of man-made law and (are) governed by the shariah”.

The words were released along with photographs showing Mr Mannan smiling and pointing to the sky and his wife in a niqab.

The release says: “Yes, all 12 of us (are in Syria) and why would this number be shocking…none of us were forced here against our will. In fact it is outrageous to think that an entire family could be kidnapped and made to migrate like this.”

The family is quoted as hitting back at Western society, describing it as “so-called freedom and democracy that was forced down our throat in the attempt to brainwash Muslims to forget about their powerful and glorious past and now present”.

They say they “feel safer than we have ever felt before” in the war-torn country, where hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the past four years – nearly half of them civilians.

The family was reported missing last week after failing to return from a holiday in Bangladesh. It was understood they had flown back via Istanbul, the first port of call in Turkey for many would-be IS converts hoping to reach Syria.

Mr Mannan is aged 75 and his wife Minera Khatun is 53.

Also gone are their daughter Rajia Khanom, 21, and sons Mohammed Zayd Hussain, 25, Mohammed Toufique Hussain, 19, Mohammed Abil Kashem Saker, 31, his wife Sheida Khanam, 27, Mohammed Saleh Hussain, 26, and his wife Roshanara Begum, 24, along with three children, aged between one and 11.

Neighbours and friends have said they believe they were tricked or brainwashed and that the community was shocked by their disappearance.

 

 

 

SKY NEWS