Back After a Lifetime in IS

Hundreds of young radicals have fled comfortable homes in Muslim and non-Muslim nations alike to join the Islamic State’s fight for control in Syria and Iraq. If not killed during battle or by superiors for insubordination, many soon want to return home. Such is the case of Arif Majeed from India who traveled to Iraq in May. He fled to Turkey and returned home with bullet wounds on November 28. The 22-year-old civil engineering student is under arrest; his family is under investigation, along with families of three families who accompanied him. Escaping IS is not easy. Authorities must determine whether the young man rejects extremism or intends to wage attacks on his homeland. So far, Arif claims he married a young Palestinian woman, though cannot offer details on how he reached Turkey. Nations and families will struggle on what to do with returning militants who showed such poor judgment by joining ruthless terrorists. Arif seems most distraught that IS did not trust Indians for military duties, assigning him to cleaning tasks and guarding women rather than combat duties. – YaleGlobal