Twist in the 72 virgins tale: Kerala youth brainwashed into Jihad with new promise

Thiruvananthapuram

oi-Vicky

Thiruvananthapuram, July 19: Islamist terror preachers have often lured youth into terrorism by promising Jihadi martyrs the services of 72 virgins in heaven. Now, it seems, youth in Kerala are being beckoned by the barbaric ISIS with a new promise.

Take the case of Mohammad Marwan, a Kerala youth suspected to have joined the ISIS. He has moved past the 72 virgins temptation. Instead, he believes that if he dies a martyr, he will be able to buy tickets to heaven for 70 people.

Also read: Terror attacks inspired in Syria and made elsewhere in the world

Marwan, a resident of Kerala, is one of the many who have gone missing from the state and is believed to have joined the ISIS.

In a message to his family, which is now being probed by the police and intelligence bureau, he says "I have unfinished work. How can I sit in the comfort of my home when Muslims are being killed. How can I enjoy life when my brothers and sisters are being persecuted... It is my duty to fight so that my community is protected".

Investigations on

Investigators in Kerala are currently studying two messages that have been sent by missing youth to their family members. While the text message of Marwan is under probe, the cops are also looking into a voice message sent by another person called Dr Ijaz.

These messages are similar in nature, sources in the probe team said. "We are looking into both. Our priority is to track down the youth".

Investigators are also working on leads with Iran as it was suspected that the missing youth may have landed in that country before making their way to Iraq and Syria.

Both Ijaz and Marwan claim in their messages that it was 'self-realisation', not radicalisation, that led them to this path. Both say in their messages that they will return only after their "job is complete" and ask family members not to be saddened by their departure.

"If we die, we become martyrs and that means we can recommend 70 persons to go to heaven," both their messages said.

OneIndia News