al-Hasani
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This undated file image posted on a militant website on Jan. 14, 2014 shows fighters from the Al-Qaeda linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) marching in Raqqa, Syria. Thousands of foreign jihadists, including Saudis, have joined various forces fighting againstg the Assad regime in Syria. (AP)
JEDDAH: ARAB NEWS
Published — Friday 14 February 2014
Last update 15 February 2014 12:46 pm
Several young Saudis who had gone to Syria on their own to fight alongside opposition forces have returned home.
The Saudi Embassy in Turkey facilitated their return, Saudi Ambassador to Ankara Adel Mirdad said, adding: “All Saudi (fighters) who returned through Turkey were young men and did not include any women.”
The ambassador put the average age of the Saudi fighters at 20 years. “This indicates that they were misguided (by extremist groups),” Mirdad said. “We received several calls from the relatives of these Saudis and we have informed them that the moment they arrive in Turkey. We will make arrangements for their travel to the Kingdom,” he added. Mirdad emphasized his embassy’s efforts to facilitate the return of Saudi fighters. “We have clear instructions from higher authorities to provide Saudis abroad all care and support, especially for those in trouble zones,” he said. Many young Saudis had taken refuge at the embassy seeking assistance to facilitate their return to the Kingdom.According to a report carried by Al-Watan newspaper, 1,400 Saudi fighters and relief workers were in Syria. They represent a small group compared to 20,000 foreign fighters in the war-torn country, the paper said, adding that 20 percent of Saudi fighters had returned. The number of Saudi returnees from the Syrian war zone is expected to go up drastically after a recent royal decree warning such fighters that they would face three to 20 years for taking part in conflicts abroad.
Easy homecoming: Saudis quit Syria war | Arab News — Saudi Arabia News, Middle East News, Opinion, Economy and more.
No matter how unjust the situation is in Syria then it is better for those young people not to go. A lot of nonsense is going on among those groups and very few are genuine. So better to support the local groups with money or do donations or humanitarian work.
I do think that the new royal degree is quite drastic though.