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NGO unveils reasons behind Indonesian jihadist deployment to Syria
An NGO has unveiled the reasons behind the deployment of dozens of Indonesian radicals to join the Syrian conflict, which vary from religious to strategic motives
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An NGO has unveiled the reasons behind the deployment of dozens of Indonesian radicals to join the Syrian conflict, which vary from religious to strategic motives. In fact, according to the NGO, fighting in the war is seen as a prestigious honor for these radicals.
Director of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC) Sidney Jones said the popular religious reason among these radicals was the words of Prophet Muhammad that the final battle at the end of the time would take place in Sham (greater Syria).
As for the strategic ones, she continued, was the belief that the jihadists could use the chaos following the Arab spring as a way to restore the caliphate.
'As far as we know, the number of Indonesian jihadist is still by the dozens but the number could climb,' Jones stated in press statement at IPAC website.
She then warned the government to pay serious attention to this matter because it could bring some domestic affects later on. She said the returning jihadists could gain momentum and create new organizations here in order to continue the fight locally.(dic)
