Malaysians fighting in Syria war

MERCENARIES': Malaysians hired by terrorist groups, says Syrian nun

PETALING JAYA: A  SYRIAN abbess yesterday came out with a shocking claim that a number of Malaysians have been employed as mercenaries by terrorist groups in her country's  civil war.

In revealing what had transpired in the war between armed opposition and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government, Mother Superior Agnès-Mariam de la Croix said Malaysians were among thousands of foreign mercenaries indoctrinated to take up arms in a holy war.

The peace activist told the New Straits Times that she had been informed the guerillas were recruited in January last year from some 80 countries, including Libya, Tunisia, Turkey, Pakistan, Australia and Yemen.

Mother Agnès-Mariam was here yesterday to talk at a conference focusing on the Syrian civil war, in an event jointly organised by non-governmental organisation International Movement of a Just World and Institute of Strategic and International Studies.

"I bet that they did not even know that they were in Syria.

"These mercenaries have been brainwashed into believing that they are on the path of jihad, but I know that jihad does not involve spilling the blood of innocents.

"And now they are part of terrorist groups wreaking chaos in Syria," said the Catholic nun of Greek descent.

She claimed the recruits were flown to several countries for armed training before heading to Syria.

The terrorist groups used their international network to bring the recruits to Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon where they were trained and brought to Syria only when they were deemed battle-ready, she said.

On Malaysia, Mother Agnès-Mariam said the nation could learn from the conflict by avoiding violence and extremism from creeping into the people's minds.

She lauded the government for promoting unity among the people of various races.

She said Malaysia could testify to the world on the fact that nothing could be built out of hatred and discrimination.

"Malaysians have a great tradition of tolerance, openness and conviviality.

"You are (living in) a pluralistic society and you have planned to live together in peace and harmony."

Harap Malaysia ambil iktibar apa yang terjadi di luar sana dan janganlah ada rakyat Malaysia yang cuna nak mengeruhkan lagi keadaan di Syria yang senang bergolak itu...