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Japanese man detained in Turkey for trying to join Islamic State

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Cancel his passport, and let him fend for himself.

15 ( +16 / -2 )

....and the J-government makes the same mistake as Western governments in wanting this wannabe jihadi back. As if Japan needs him! What they should do is cancel his passport and let him have what he wants.

14 ( +16 / -3 )

So this wanna-be mass murderer will be sent back to Japan, where he will be free to walk the streets?

10 ( +13 / -2 )

Japan should let him go but not let him back.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

Another Japanese soldier of fortune perhaps? Best to keep this out of the Japanese mainstream press, more idiots might want to try and follow in his footsteps.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Something tells me this fella was probably unemployed back home and had no real goals or agenda in life.

Would probably have read about him on here committing some other type of crime out of boredom or attention seeking.

Does Japan really want him back?

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Louis Amsel:

" or a bunch of jihadists they seem to be too cunning and well trained "

Why do think Jihadis can not be cunning and well-trained? Plenty of well educated people among the fanatics. For that matter, Aum Shinrikyio in Japan also had a fair share of well-trained academics. Education does not protect from radical ideology.

7 ( +7 / -1 )

louis amsei they are the former bathists from sadam husseins government. they are not rag tag or a bunch of jihadist to be discounted out of hand. the american bush administration created this isis situation by dismantling the iraqi army and government.turns out to be expensive oil in the long run

6 ( +8 / -2 )

i'm sure there must be a law in japan that forbids joining terrorist organizations. at the very least use the all-purpose anti-nuisance law to get him.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

who has sympathy for and desire to help ISIS? Do these misinformed ISIS sympathizers really believe in the objectives and more importantly the ISIS methods of human execution? What are they thinking?

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Thousands of people have done this, and this guy gets caught. Something tells me that he would have died in suicide bomber training long before he got to the front lines.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

European countries sentenced many returnees to jail.

Do you thing the Ozzie girl who wired money to ISIS will just get a 'Don't do it agsin'.

Noticed you like to post negative comments when you actually don't know the facts on many threads.

I as a European lived with various sorts of terror attacks since the 70's and most were committed by non-muslims.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

More likely he would have ended up as yet another Hostage.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Doubt he will walk free more likely a Police escort will await him at the Airport.

All other nations arrested and charged their nationals upon return.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Please of examples in the local presses, most cases are not big enough to make the international news.

Like the14 and 15yr old girls from my country that were returned by Turkey for trying to become ISIS brides.

Oh I have seen what ETA, IRA, PLO, Black Panthers, etc, etc got us too.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Sadly there is no cure for stupidity. There are people out there who will follow just about anyone selling just about any idea. I mean ISIS is no different than so many other insane ideas that people subscribe to thanks to spending time on the internet.

Bottom line, this guy should be put somewhere very secure for a long while until it is clear he has come to his senses. Or not.

3 ( +3 / -1 )

Im not sure what that has to do with someone trying to join IS.

You don't think joining a foreign militant group that has beheaded Japanese is treason?

3 ( +2 / -0 )

katsu78:

" Why do you think it's safe to assume that? Were you there when he proclaimed "There is no God but God and Mohammed is His Prophet," 3 times, or have recorded evidence from someone who was there? Or is it just convenient for you to assume he isn't part of Japanese society in order to pre-empt questioning of why he chose to act against it? "

No, it is safe to assume that he is a muslim convert because because only Sunni muslims are attracted by the islamic state. In fact, as a non-muslim, he would have a very short half-life im ISIS country. Check out how they treat Christians, Yazidis, Druzes, and in fact Shias.

Pretty much the same as stating that only an admirer of the Juche ideoloy would want to live in North Korea... obvious, in fact.

3 ( +4 / -0 )

i wonder how isis recruit on socia media, it's been pretty damn effective since so many ppl have fell to their craps. for a bunch of jihadists they seem to be too cunning and well trained.

2 ( +5 / -2 )

Please don't let him come back, please don't let him come back, enough crazies here as it is

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Japan should make sure that this guy will be locked up in jail or house arrest until he is back to sanity. Never let this man walk around Tokyo or any major towns in Japan.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Sounds like yet another confused soul. A more adveturous version of those "black van" boys.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Let's hope he is dealt with appropriately on his return.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

katsu78:

" It is shocking to most people that someone from their society would want to join their enemy "

False assumption right there. Why do you assume he would want to "join the enemy"? Nobody does that. It is safe to assume he is a muslim convert and he sees ISIS as "his" society, and not as his "enemy".

2 ( +5 / -2 )

I think bringing him back is better. That way they can keep a closer eye on him. I shudder to think about what Isis is planning for the Tokyo Olympics, and I'm sure having Japanese nationals on their team would only improve their intelligence for said missions.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Its me:

" Funny both those girls were Catholic, same as many others. "

They were Catholics before they converted to islam. Get real -- the only job description for Catholic girls in ISIS country would be a sex slaves.

And no, there no non-muslims joining ISIS, let alone "many". The claim is absurd.

You can bet that the Japanese guy mentioned in this article was a convert too.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Is ISIS defined as a "foreign military"? Wbere?

Foreign: Check.

Military: Check.

So, yes.

More on wiki

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, IPA /ˈaɪsᵻl/), alternatively translated as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS, /ˈaɪsᵻs/),[31] is a Salafi jihadist militant group that follows an Islamic fundamentalist, Wahhabi doctrine of Sunni Islam.[32] The group is also known as Daesh (داعش‎ dāʿish, IPA: [ˈdaːʕiʃ]), which is an acronym derived from its Arabic name ad-Dawlah al-Islāmiyah fī 'l-ʿIrāq wa-sh-Shām (الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشام‎).[33][34] The group has referred to itself as the Islamic State (About this sound الدولة الإسلامية (help·info)‎ ad-Dawlah al-Islāmiyah) or IS[35] ever since it proclaimed a worldwide caliphate in June 2014[36][37] and named Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as its caliph.[38] As a caliphate, it claims religious, political and military authority over all Muslims worldwide.[39]

2 ( +2 / -0 )

So, do you call Saudi Arabia a "foreign militant group"? And arrest Japanese for wanting to go there?

If a Japanese national joined the Saudi military, yeah, it would probably be treason. I'm a dual national, and one of the conditions of that dual nationality is that I not become a member of a foreign government or a foreign military in the second country of nationality.

The differences between ISIS and Saudi Arabia--as horrible a country as Saudi Arabia is--are that first, Saudi Arabia is not a declared enemy of Japan (ISIS is), and second, it's a recognized government, rather than a non-governmental militant group.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

2 ( +2 / -0 )

katsu78:

" Certainly only Sunni Muslims are allowed to join ISIS. That doesn't mean only Sunni Muslims are attracted by ISIS. "

Maybe some non sunni muslims are attracted by ISIS (in particular the hot sex slaves that you allude to later in your message). But in order to live in ISIS land, they will have to convert to Sunni islam. The alternative is to die.

Which is why I stated the obvious: the Japanese guy was a muslim convert. What exactly is your complaint about a simple statement of fact`?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The question we really need to ask is did this guy try to join and die on some suicide mission abroad.

Or…(as I suspect) receive training and then return to Japan to commit some atrocity here?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I suppose we can assume that he is ethnic Japanese and not a naturalised foreigner?

1 ( +5 / -4 )

MarkGMAR. 24, 2016 - 07:13AM JST who has sympathy for and desire to help ISIS? Do these misinformed ISIS sympathizers really believe in the objectives and more importantly the ISIS methods of human execution? What are they thinking?

Louis AmselMAR. 24, 2016 - 07:49AM JST i wonder how isis recruit on socia media, it's been pretty damn effective since so many ppl have fell to their craps. for a bunch of jihadists they seem to be too cunning and well trained.

The two smartest comments in the thread, right here, because these two people are willing to ask questions.

It is shocking to most people that someone from their society would want to join their enemy, so it's all too easy to just invent reasons to explain it, particularly reasons that denigrate the person who would dare to violate group identity ("He must be crazy!")

It takes real courage when faced with your society and morals and culture being rejected by someone who seems to be like you, to instead of reacting with casual dismissal or with hatred or a desire for the rejecter to be punished for rejecting you, to dare to admit you don't have all the answers and ask why. And this is a crucial step, because as long as we don't understand why people are joining ISIS, we'll never be able to stop it from happening. Kudos to the both of you.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Funny both those girls were Catholic, same as many others.

What is misguided in trying to protect my coumtry, At my age I won't get back into the Sandbox. Did that one serving on the Golan Heights.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

To do what, exactly? I don´t think there is a law dealing with this.

Most treason laws would cover joining a foreign military.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If this man wants to leave the relative safety, freedom and peace of a secular nation to go there, then perhaps he should be able to, but in doing so gives up the rights and protections the rest of the world has been fighting and slowly progressing towards over the millennia.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

WilliBMAR. 24, 2016 - 11:27PM JST Which is why I stated the obvious: the Japanese guy was a muslim convert.

It's not obvious, it's your speculation. We don't know he is a convert yet.

What exactly is your complaint about a simple statement of fact`?

Have you not been reading my posts? I've stated very clearly my complaint about your claim:

1) It's not a fact, it's your speculation,

2) Even if it were true, it would do nothing to explain the actual question under discussion (i.e. why he chose to join ISIS). Your insistence on clinging to your assumption of his conversion suggests you're more interested in othering this man as an outsider to Japanese society than you are in actually sincerely discovering his motivation,

3) Your entire participation in this conversation has been based on you misinterpreting one of my comments from the get-go.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Is ISIS defined as a "foreign military"? Wbere?

It's how they define themselves.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Katsu:

" It's not obvious, it's your speculation. We don't know he is a convert yet. "

We do not "know" that is a convert, but we can assume it with certainty. The alternative is that he wanted to get killed by ISIS. Is that seriously what you suggest? You really should read up on Wahabi islam and ISIS.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Militant group ? really ?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

As much as I agree with the attitude of just letting him go and then not letting him back into Japan, in terms of practicality it would come back to bite Japan later. If they let him go and he joined, within a month there'd be a call from a Japanese in ISIS declaring that he "just wants to come home" and "didn't know what he was getting into" and then you'd have Japan, stuck yet again, trying to do backdoor deals to get one of their nationals back.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

I think its time for japanese intelligence guys to practice their newly acquired waterboarding techniques. Perfect candidate.

I think I would be even tougher with non-Muslims born and bred westerners, orientals etc who join this group as there is an element of betrayal in their approach. They are the sickest of all.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Its me:

" European countries sentenced many returnees to jail. "

Any examples for that?`I have not seen any case like that reported. I did see the figure of about 3000 returned ISIS terrorists (sorry "fighters" in the media newspeak) living off welfare in Belgium.

And yesterday you saw what that gets you.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Should have let him join. He would have lasted less than a day.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Since he intended to join the group, he's virtually one of them. I'm worried that he would do something dangerous if allowed to come back to Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So Japan is not Europe or Australia. You can still answer the question as young people from all the world(USA invl.) Want to join them. Not a problem confined to Europe Aline..

Anyway I got to start packing, leaving for my Home Country tomorrow been recalled back into the Army for active Duty to help fight ISIS.

If you can read those papers than you can find the info yourself.

Done talking to you.Hoping you will join our European Troops in fighting ISIS.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

let him go, never let him back, ever

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Isn't this the second or third Japanese guy they've caught trying to defect to IS? What's going on here?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Be a bit smart about this. Bring him back, then interogate the hell out of him and extract as much information as you can about their social media recruiting system, names etc. When you're done employ him in a role where he constantly comunicates with them in numerous identities passing all info on to the intelligence services.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

WilliBMAR. 24, 2016 - 06:34PM JST No, it is safe to assume that he is a muslim convert because because only Sunni muslims are attracted by the islamic state.

That's a strong claim that requires supporting evidence on your part. Certainly only Sunni Muslims are allowed to join ISIS. That doesn't mean only Sunni Muslims are attracted by ISIS. We can easily imagine scenarios where a person is not initially a Sunni Muslim, but who finds their simplistic approach to morality so appealing that they would first desire to join the group, willing to convert upon joining. People could also be attracted by their access to drugs or the opportunity to rape "ji-hotties", again with the intention to convert upon joining.

You're approaching the situation very simplistically, and I note not answering the other questions I asked you.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Probably he will be kept in Japanese jail for quite a while for violation of visa, etc. Too bad for him as Japan is guilty until proven innocent.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

His mother now in front of TV camera crew apologizing for this misunderstanding...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

" Most treason laws would cover joining a foreign military. " Is ISIS defined as a "foreign military"? Wbere?

This is a very central point. ISIS probably isn't defined anywhere as a foreign military, but it should be, because if it were it would place countries whose citizens were attacked on a war footing. This would give them greater licence to take more ruthless measures against ISIS which could not legally be countenanced under peacetime legislation. This could include surveillance without court orders, cancelling of citizenships, execution of traitors and so on. It would negate the effectiveness of all those well-intentioned but cerebrally- softened human rights activists and others who put individual rights over rights of societies as a whole, because it is the latter that is being attacked by these vicious, primitive and twisted idealists.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

MRT, the Miyazaki NTV branch, had the mom being interviewed this morning. This is what my wife and I translate from the interview:

Seems junior was "bored with life and wanted to find excitement." So he got into a web forum and made some "friends" who invited him to Turkey. His buddies recruited him and were going to send him to Syria. Mommy only found this out after sonny left a letter at home, and sent another home after being inTurkey for a week. The police came knocking on their door Wednesday and took all computers and mobile phones from the house by warrant. Mommy didn't inform the police when she read the letter because she "was in shock and didn't know what to do."

The only identification the network gave as to where in Japan he is from is "Kanto Area".

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Update

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/03/25/national/japanese-police-quiz-turkey-deported-wakayama-man-23-find-no-link-islamic-state-crime/#.VvXduPl94_4

Police on Friday finished questioning a 23-year-old Japanese man after he was deported from Turkey for allegedly attempting to join the Islamic State group, finding he had not committed a crime, according to investigation sources.

Police said his belongings, including his cellphone, showed he had no connection to IS.

Police were looking into whether the man may have broken a Penal Code provision that bars a person from preparing or plotting to wage war against a foreign state in a personal capacity. “He seems to have gone abroad without any specific plans. Right now, he is not suspected of any crime,” the investigation sources said.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

We do not "know" that is a convert, but we can assume it with certainty

You may be able to, but some of us would rather deal with fact, than unsupported guesses.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Strangerland:

" You may be able to, but some of us would rather deal with fact, than unsupported guesses. "

I pointed out the fact that non-muslims killed by ISIS. What part of that do you consider a "guess"?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japanese society emphasizes being one with society. American society emphasizes being an individual. Both countries have problems with members joining ISIS. I wonder which is the best way for society? I like the idea of an individual raised with two parents (same sex is OK) showing how to resolve conflict in an acceptable way, how to think for yourself, and how to be a moral person with care for their fellow human. Religion is OK if it supports care for fellow humans even if they are of another religion.

-1 ( +1 / -3 )

Its me:

" Like the14 and 15yr old girls from my country that were returned by Turkey for trying to become ISIS brides. "

I am not aware of any 14 and 15 year old girls being in prison for wanting to be ISIS brides. Any source for that?

" Oh I have seen what ETA, IRA, PLO, Black Panthers, etc, etc got us too. "

ETA and IRA are localized, historical conflicts. PLO falls under islamic terrorism. And Black Panthers are not in Europe.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Sources, yes, can you read German, French, Dutch, Italian? Like I said not made public in the english speaking international press.

Btw, you haven't answered what will happen to the Australian girl that send money to ISIS.

Anyway done here.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Its me:

" Sources, yes, can you read German, French, Dutch, Italian? Like I said not made public in the english speaking international press. "

Actually, yes I can. Any sources for any imprisoned ISIS returnees (including 14 year old ISIS brides) from German, French, Dutch, Italian newspapers? I am not holding my breath.

" Btw, you haven't answered what will happen to the Australian girl that send money to ISIS. "

Australia is not Europe.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Its Me:

" So Japan is not Europe or Australia. You can still answer the question as young people from all the world(USA invl.) Want to join them. Not a problem confined to Europe Aline.. "

"Young people" do not want to join ISIS --- indoctrinated muslims do, many of them young. You are looking at an ideology, and as long as we ignore that we are losing.

" Anyway I got to start packing, leaving for my Home Country tomorrow been recalled back into the Army for active Duty to help fight ISIS. "

I feel sorry that your government sends you on such a misguided mission. I hope you stay safe.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Nessie:

" Most treason laws would cover joining a foreign military. "

Is ISIS defined as a "foreign military"? Wbere?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Probably he is disguised of japan's local right-wing groups. Just making noises in rally but no actions. He want to play something REAL. And he might be an educated person.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

WilliBMAR. 24, 2016 - 10:21AM JST False assumption right there. Why do you assume he would want to "join the enemy"?

You appear to have misunderstood my comment. It is shocking to people that someone from their society would join their society's enemy. But let's run with you comment anyway, because you've said some very interesting things.

It is safe to assume he is a muslim convert and he sees ISIS as "his" society, and not as his "enemy".

Why do you think it's safe to assume that? Were you there when he proclaimed "There is no God but God and Mohammed is His Prophet," 3 times, or have recorded evidence from someone who was there? Or is it just convenient for you to assume he isn't part of Japanese society in order to pre-empt questioning of why he chose to act against it?

But let's walk your comment back even further:

It is safe to assume he is a muslim convert and he sees ISIS as "his" society, and not as his "enemy".

I was praising people for having the courage to question why people would join ISIS. You counter with the assumption that this person must have converted to Islam. But that doesn't add any meaningful information to our discussion. There are some 1.6 billion Muslims in the world. Being generous, it is estimated that ISIS has a membership of about 250,000 people. So less than .015% of Muslims in the world belong to ISIS. Why then, would you think proclaiming that he must have converted to Islam explains his joining ISIS when the overwhelming majority of Muslims don't join ISIS? Even further, why do you think his conversion to Islam makes him an enemy of Japanese society? There aren't reliable estimates of the number of Muslims in Japan, but the population is surely in the tens of thousands, yet we've seen no evidence that any of them are truly enemies of Japan.

You seem to be pushing a narrative that others this man in the face of people genuinely trying to understand him better. I'm sure such othering makes people of a certain mindset feel satisfied in their self-proclaimed superiority to him, but it does nothing for helping us understand his motivation or dissuading further Japanese people from attempting to join ISIS.

-2 ( +0 / -3 )

Its me:

" Doubt he will walk free more likely a Police escort will await him at the Airport. "

To do what, exactly? I don´t think there is a law dealing with this. I expect nothing will happen to him, Just like the thousands of returned ISIS jihadis being coddled in Europe.

-3 ( +2 / -4 )

Nessie:

" You don't think joining a foreign militant group that has beheaded Japanese is treason? "

ISIS practises literalist islamic law; pretty much the same as Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia also behead people regularly (almost daily actually) for violations of Shariah law. So, do you call Saudi Arabia a "foreign militant group"? And arrest Japanese for wanting to go there?

-3 ( +0 / -2 )

We should not rush judging,nothing confirmed up till now,even though,this guy for sure has his own personal circumstances pushed him to take this horrible step.Japanese authorities must treat him as a special case,not as a possible dander or terrorist.This is never Japanese culture or beliefs,which means it just an exceptional case,search for personal background.I believe this young guy is a victim,not a guilty one.Taking extra care of him should be the right way to handle his case.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

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