Israel’s security forces arrested an Israeli Arab woman who left the country to join the Islamic State terror group in Syria.
An Arab Israeli woman, a mother of five and a doctoral candidate, was arrested last month en route to joining the Islamic State (ISIS) terror organization, the Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency) announced Sunday.
Iman Ahmed Mohamed Kanjou, 44, a resident of Shfar’am in northern Israel, was seized by Turkish authorities as she was about to cross into Syria with a group of aspiring ISIS members from around the world. She was deported back to Israel, where she was arrested by authorities at Ben Gurion Airport.
She admitted during questioning that her goal was to live under Muslim Shari’a law and that ISIS embodied her views.
Kanjou began to disseminate information about ISIS and her support for the terrorist organization through social media. She also contacted an ISIS operative online, who promised to help her get to Syria and join the Islamic group.
She decided a few months ago to join ISIS, and hoped to help them by teaching classes on Islam in order to “boost their motivation.” She also expressed willingness to do anything else requested by ISIS.
Kanjou was indicted in a Haifa court on Sunday for traveling to an enemy country unlawfully and for maintaining contact with a foreign agent
The number of Palestinian and Israeli Arabs attempting to join ISIS has increased significantly. The Shin Bet estimates that more than 40 Israeli Arabs have joined the terrorist group in Syria over the past two years.
Last month, Hamza Magamze, an Israeli Arab from the Galilee, received a three-year prison sentence for training with ISIS. It was the heaviest sentence given to date for such a crime. The Shin Bet is encouraging tougher penalties for joining ISIS due to concerns that returning ISIS members will try to carry on with their terror within Israel’s borders.
By: Max Gelber, United with Israel
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