REPORT FROM TURKEY: How Pro-ISIS Indonesians Enter Syria
19 October 2018 15:29 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Gaziantep – Supporters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) seeking to join the Islamist extremist in the war in Syria—including those from Indonesia—are suspected of entering the conflict-torn country through Istanbul, Turkey.
According to Tempo sources, the ISIS supporters then headed to Gaziantep, South Turkey by land. “They always come by bus from Istanbul,” a cab driver told Tempo at Gazientep Terminal on Wednesday, March 25, 2015.
The cab driver, who chose to remain anonymous, said ISIS sympathizers, including Indonesians, always rode a cab to enter Syria. He added the groups’ leaders usually called someone via cell phone and then gave the phone to the cab driver. The voice at the other end then gave instructions to the cab driver to take his passengers to a particular place.
“Take the money, leave them,” the cab driver said, quoting the caller’s voice. According to some cab drivers, the would-be ISIS militants were dropped off in different locations some 3-4 kilometers off the terminal. “I’ve taken many groups to over 20 locations,” another cab driver said.
After paying their taxis, ISIS supporters will take another car, most likely leaving for Akcakale city in Sanliurfa province, which borders with Tel Abyad, Ar-Raqqa, Syria—a region that has fallen under the control of the Abu Bakar al-Bagdadi-led extremists. From Akcakale, the sneak into Syria to wage jihad.
“We’ve been here for years. Everyone is aware of this [situation], including the police. But who can stop them?” a cab driver said.
*The complete version of this story is available in Tempo magazine this week.
PRAMONO (GAZIANTEP)
