More than 50 Malaysians with the Islamic State militant group in Syria and Iraq wish to return to Malaysia but fear death at the hands of fellow militants, said Khalid Abu Bakar, Malaysia's inspector general of police.
"They have pledged to serve Daesh and face death at the hands of fellow militants if they leave the group," he told reporters, after delivering a talk at the International Islamic University of Malaysia in Gombak on Thursday (Nov 24).
"If they want to return to Malaysia, they must find their own way out," he added. "They are trapped. If there is a way, we will help because they are citizens of this country."
He also said that some Malaysians had torn up and burned their passports when they joined Islamic State, and added that those who return to Malaysia will not be exempted from penalty under Malaysian law.
According to Khalid, around 60 Malaysians were believed to have joined the extremist group in Syria. "Fourteen of them were suicide bombers who reportedly died in Syria," he said. He added that 260 Islamic State members had been arrested and were serving out their sentences.
