MESOP NEWS : HOME AGAIN – Sulaimani Security Chief: Many Kurds Who Went for Syria Jihad Have Returned

By Salar Reza & Nawzad Mahmoud – RUDAW – 9.4.2014 – Wasta Hassan, chief of the Sulaimani Security Department (Asayish), says that the number of Jihadist recruits going to fight in Syria from the Kurdistan Region has fallen, and that many who went have repented and returned. Hassan denied the existence of a recruitment network in Kurdistan, saying that those who went did so individually, or were recruited by other individuals at mosques.

Asked if the al-Qaeda splinter, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) had made inroads into the Kurdistan Region, Hassan said: “They do have plans to destabilize the region and gradually encroach on the Kurdistan Region. But with the assistance of the Peshmarga force, we will not allow them to do so.” He also said that, despite differences between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the security departments (Asayish) from both groups were working well and cooperating. Here is an edited transcript of his interview:

Rudaw: The head of the anti-terror squad in Sulaimani, Lahur Sheikh Jangi, said a few months ago that hundreds of young Kurds have gone to Syria for Jihad. Is this still continuing?

Wasta Hassan: That’s true. It was like that in the past, but now it has decreased, because the youth have discovered the misleading reality over there.

Rudaw: Do the security forces know the number of people who have gone to Syria for Jihad?

Wasta Hassan: The data varies from region to region. Around 150 individuals have gone to Syria, but many of them have returned. Unfortunately, most of them are from the region of Sharazoor, and from Sulaimani as well. Around 30 of them have returned.

Rudaw: Have you interrogated them? Do they regret what they did?

Wasta Hassan: They are very regretful. Some of them had acted on emotion, or had been influenced by friends they had been in touch with through the Internet and some websites. Some of them did not reach Syria and returned from Turkey, after being sought by their relatives.

Rudaw: Have your investigations led to any groups in Kurdistan that might have helped in recruiting and sending those young people?

Wasta Hassan: No group in Kurdistan was involved. This was not planned by a certain group, but rather by individual conviction, which led them to contact some websites and certain individuals and fall into the trap. Some young people did not believe in those groups initially, but they gradually fell under their influence. These groups teach how to fight and kill and control the minds of the young people.

Rudaw: You have raided some mosques and seized computers of some students of religion. Did the evidence prove the involvement of the mosques in sending young people to Syria?

Wasta Hassan: Unfortunately, some individuals use the mosques as hunting ground for young people, to influence them when they come for worship at the mosques. They either do that though preaching or talking to them in person. They make them believe that Jihad is a religious duty and that they must go to Syria.

Rudaw: So the mosques were involved?

Wasta Hassan: Certainly, I can say that they had a role.

Rudaw: In the past few months, sticky bombs were attached to the vehicles of some officers in Sulaimani. Where have the investigations reached in this regard?

Wasta Hassan: There were seven such incidents. We luckily arrested three of them after conducting investigations. The only missing link was the mastermind who carried out the operations. We arrested them along with their devices in their houses. One of them had 17 mobile phones in his house. We thank the Asayish of Kirkuk for arresting a group, which our investigations linked to the explosions. A member of this group was involved in the two explosions of Sarchnar, the Bazar of Sarchnar, and of the brigadier-general of the 70 Forces. They have all been arrested except one, who is still at large.

Rudaw: It is said that there is no good communication between the security departments, especially between the Asayish of Sulaimani and Erbil.

Wasta Hassan: On the contrary, cooperation between us and the Asayish of Erbil, Kirkuk and other groups such as the anti-terror squad in Sulaimani and Erbil is very good. There is collaboration, and we have an operation room where we exchange intelligence with Erbil. We recently gave very good intelligence to Erbil with which they arrested a number of dangerous terrorists. They also give us good intelligence, and we cooperate with the police as well.

Rudaw: Can we say that the Asayish of Erbil and Sulaimani, or more correctly the Asayish of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), have become united?

Wasta Hassan: I cannot say that they have become completely united or not, but we do our work well together and exchange intelligence and information.

Rudaw: Do ordinary people help the Asayish?

Wasta Hassan: Certainly. Asayish and the people are like fish and water. I would like to convey my gratitude to all the citizens for helping the security apparatuses and acting responsibly.

Rudaw: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have not made the Kurdistan Region their major target, but do you think they will pose a serious threat to the Kurdistan Region in the future?

Wasta Hassan: They do have plans to destabilize the region and gradually encroach on the Kurdistan Region. But with the assistance of the Peshmarga force, we will not allow them to do so.

Rudaw: An official from the Islamic Movement of Kurdistan (IMK) said not long ago that some former members of Ansar al-Islam and Jund al-Islam want to come back to Kurdistan from Iran, but that they need an amnesty from the Asayish. Wasta Hassan: Those who are innocent, were not involved in bombings, and did not commit murders, can come back to their homes and relatives. We have allowed them to come back and some of them did come back. They have come back with their families and children and are currently busy making a living in the city. Those who are involved in murder and violence cases will be sent to the courtsto face justice. – See more at: http://rudaw.net/english/interview/09042014#sthash.Q6V8GJQI.dpuf