Twenty-two Indonesians with links to the Islamic State, including a former government official, repatriated
The former official brought his family to Turkey to turn them into the soldiers of the Islamic State. Many Indonesians now fear radical Islamist infiltrators in the government. At least a thousand Indonesians are in Syria fighting for the Islamic State.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Turkish authorities have deported 22 Indonesian nationals accused of links with the Islamic State (IS), including Abdul Triyono Utomo Bakti, a former Indonesian Finance Ministry official.
Triyono tried to cross into Syria with his wife and three daughters to enrol as IS soldiers. His story has shocked Indonesians, who now fear that radicals have infiltrated the government.
Known as ‘Tu’, Triyono is a graduate in public policy from Flinders University in Adelaide (Australia).
After graduation he sold his house and left with his family travelling from Jakarta to Bangkok and then Turkey to cover his tracks.
According to Indonesian police, the family was caught on 16 January in Istanbul after Turkish authorities raided a safe house.
"They were forced to return home by Turkish authorities after being monitored for their potential connection to the Islamic State" said Indonesian Police Brigadier General Rikwanto in a statement.
A few days before, Turkish authorities expelled 17 other Indonesian nationals to stop these "immigrants" from reaching Syria via the Turkish border. Now all 17 are in custody at a social service centre in East Jakarta.
Police said that these individuals were “seduced" by someone going by the name of "Am" who induced them to travel to Syria to join the caliphate.
"Am" apparently paid for their trip and gave them money to help them cross the Turkish-Syrian border.
According Rikwanto, at least a thousand Indonesians are in Syria fighting for the Islamic State.
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11/04/2024 18:22
