The terrorist group behind the growing insurgency in Iraq claims it is expanding its network of foreign fighters due in part to a substantial online presence that attracts young sympathizers overseas.
Of the 6,000 Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) fighters in Iraq, half are believed to be foreigners. The well-organized terrorist group uses slick recruitment videos in an effort to recruit would-be western militants.
In one video released by the group, the words 鈥渢here is no life without Jihad鈥� float out at the viewer in English before several armed men explain why others like them should join the struggle.
Twenty-year-old Ryad Khan from Wales is one of hundreds of Britons who left their homes to join ISIS. One-time straight-A student appears in one of the recruitment videos clutching an assault rifle and asking potential recruits, 鈥淲hat prevents you from attaining martyrdom?鈥�
Back in Britain, Khan's mother says she is devastated by his rapid transformation. She believes her son was brainwashed by extremists.
鈥淧lease send my son back to me before I die,鈥� she says. 鈥淥r it鈥檚 going to be too late for Ryad and he鈥檚 going to regret this for the rest of his life.鈥�
ISIS says their fighters come from Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Australia. Canada can also be added to his list. About 30 Canadians have joined the Jihad in Iraq and Syria, leaving the country to fight with ISIS.
Last week, 麻豆影视 confirmed that Calgary man Farah Mohamed Shirdon is among those fighting with the terrorist cell. He appeared in a recent video released by ISIS, in which he uttered threats directed at Canada and U.S. oppressors. In the video, he is also seen burning his Canadian passport.
Experts say the men are first preyed upon by radical preachers who glorify terrorism and violence.
鈥淭hey poison their minds, and they tell the young men that you can鈥檛 live harmoniously in this country religiously, you have to live in a pure Islamic state,鈥� says Dr. Usama Hasan, of the London-based counter-extremism think-tank, Quilliam Foundation.
At a rally held in Calgary on Saturday, dozens demonstrated against terrorism, and warned Ottawa that radicalization happens within Canada鈥檚 borders.
Riyaz Khawaja, a member of the Hussaini Association of Calgary, says he wants to know how young men in his community are becoming convinced to fight for these causes.
鈥淭he Canadian government, CSIS intelligence agencies, should really take this serious note, and keep an eye on the radicals, where they're getting this information from," Khawaja told 麻豆影视.
His group鈥檚 website takes a hardline stance against extremists, strongly condemning 鈥渢he cowardice and heinous act of terrorism around the globe against humanity.鈥�
Canadian security officials and police across the country say they鈥檙e watching these groups closely. But they admit it鈥檚 difficult to catch everything when net-savvy young men can access extremism anywhere online.
With a report from 麻豆影视鈥� Richard Madan
