Why We Left ISIS, Defectors Open Up

Almost 60 Islamic State defectors have spoken out against the caliphate and Western governments should do more to incentivize former fighters to speak out, according to a new report by the International Center for the Study for Radicalization.

According to the New York Times, about 20,000 foreigners have joined jihadist groups in the Middle East over the last two years. About a quarter of those are Europeans, and it is estimated that between 25% and 40% have gone back to Europe.

The new report says that most of the defectors have gone into hiding to escape reprisal from ISIS but also to avoid imprisonment in the countries to which they are returning. According to the report, 58 defectors from Europe and Australia have now publicly spoken about their experience.

In the reasons listed as to why they became disenchanted with the jihadist group, most defectors mention the violence toward other Muslims. Two defectors who left after finding out they had been selected to be suicide bombers told the BBC that the “brutality of IS terrifies everyone,” referring to ISIS (aka Islamic State, IS, ISIL, and Daesh).

A Syrian man who had initially joined a rebel group fighting the Assad regime joined ISIS when his whole tribe pledged allegiance. He told the BBC that the first stage of the ISIS indoctrination was a course on the Sharia.

“Not the principles of Islam, the principles of the Islamic State,” the man said. “So they teach you the Islam they want.”

He said ISIS tactics boiled down to this “If you’re against me, then you’ll be killed. If you’re with me, you work with me. You submit to my will and obey me, under my power in all matters.”

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PDP Defectors Will Return With Empty Stomachs, Says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday predicted that those decamping from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to other parties will return with empty stomach.

He made the remark while receiving the PDP campaign report from its Director General, Ahmadu Ali at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Stressing that PDP is the dominant party despite the loss of the Presidential election, he said that the party will remain strong in subsequent elections if members are committed and hard working.

The Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih noted that the party did not win the presidential election but won peace for the country.

He said: “We didn’t win the elections but we have a leader who made us to win peace. Without peace there cannot be development.”

“There is a lot to be done. We need a very strong and vibrant party to be put in place now. I believe we are on the right path. Let us put behind us those who have betrayed the party and move forward.”

The Chairman of the party, Adamu Muazu was conspicuously absent at the event.

We Will Not Allow PDP Defectors Pollute Us- APC

APC) has denied having any hand in the crumbling of the PDP, as alleged by the party’s National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh, while offering him (Metuh) a free, six-week crash course on his new role as the opposition spokesman.

Reacting to the allegation by Metuh that the APC has been working to destabilize the PDP, the party (APC) said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Abuja on Friday, that during the training, Metuh will be given free lessons by his APC counterpart, in the spirit of cooperation and for the advancement of the nation’s democracy.

”Metuh will need the training to effectively carry out his new, tough task. It is now obvious that he needs to understand that for him to succeed in his new role, he must be credible, empirical, more sophisticated in language use and very passionate, in addition to being able to operate on a lean or zero budget,” it said.

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