UK fighters being arrested upon returning from Syria

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UK fighters being arrested upon returning from Syria
OP - January 18, 2014, 08:59 PM

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/01/18/uk-men-charged-syria-terrorism/4634985/

LONDON (AP) — Two men appeared in London court on Saturday charged with traveling to Syria intending to commit acts of terrorism.

Yusuf Sarwar and Mohammed Ahmed — both 21 and from Birmingham, central England — were arrested at Heathrow Airport on Monday after arriving on a flight from Turkey.

The men are accused of traveling to Syria on or before May 15, 2013, via Istanbul, Turkey, "with the intention of committing acts of terrorism" and preparing to engage in acts of terrorism..

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UK fighters being arrested upon returning from Syria
Reply #1 - January 18, 2014, 09:39 PM

Hmmm... I wonder if this will be a one off or if this will have a snowball effect and we will see more men returning from Syria being arrested on terrorism charges.

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Reply #2 - January 18, 2014, 10:38 PM

It would be considered a precedent in the US.

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Reply #3 - January 18, 2014, 10:49 PM

Hmmm... If I was to go to Syria to join the YPG (Kurds) secular militia which is fighting the hardcore Islamists on the Turkey and Iraqi borders, would I be labeled a "terrorist"?

Thinking of the socialist volunteers for the Spanish civil war and the Finnish wars here.

When is it "terrorism"?

I mean - you can be an Islamist without being a terrorist? Or at least, so I think.

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Reply #4 - January 18, 2014, 11:13 PM

These are all good points. I suppose, if you are fighting for the Kurds, and you are a resident in Germany, you would be okay. I don't know about anywhere else.

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Reply #5 - January 18, 2014, 11:48 PM

If you are fighting for the Kurds in Syria, you at least have the moral upper hand - well, at least according to me :S

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Reply #6 - January 19, 2014, 01:45 AM

Quote from: Nikolaj on January 18, 2014, 10:49 PM
Hmmm... If I was to go to Syria to join the YPG (Kurds) secular militia which is fighting the hardcore Islamists on the Turkey and Iraqi borders, would I be labeled a "terrorist"?

Thinking of the socialist volunteers for the Spanish civil war and the Finnish wars here.

When is it "terrorism"?

I mean - you can be an Islamist without being a terrorist? Or at least, so I think.

I agree. Feels like a bad precedent, but I can't be bothered to think it through.
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