‘Hunger led me to join terrorist group,’ claims Daesh fighter

A member of Daesh has told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he was forced to join the group to stave off hunger. He is now in custody.

In the interview, Abu Omar Al-Iraqi (not his real name), one of 10 Daesh members held by rebel group Ahrar Al-Sharqiya north-east of Aleppo, told the BBC why he joined the terrorist group.

“There are a lot of people like me who joined Daesh because they were hungry,” he said through a translator. “They had no other option at that time.”

Asked about the falling morale within Daesh ranks, Al-Iraqi replied, “When Daesh loses ground, its leaders hide behind religious sayings and banners and say that we are losing because in our areas some people are committing sin.”

The captive claimed that did not personally take part in the fighting and was recruited in the traffic police department. His captors are a faction within the Free Syrian Army.