T – What made you want to travel to Syria?
Abu Firas: I’m motivated by what’s going on in Syria. The oppression, the fact that the regime…Assad and his regime are using bombs, barrels bombs on hospitals, schools and killing innocent civilians by the day…and I’m very motivated by that and I want to go there to be part of the solution. I’m British and I’m a graduate, also self-employed, I have wife I have kids and I’m quite contented with my normal life.
T – A lot of people would describe you as a terrorist? What would you say to them?
AF:Well I’m not the one who’s dropping bombs on innocent civilians and children, and killing people. I want to help and support and be the solution to the problem in Syria. So who’s the real terrorist here? It’s the Assad regime…if people want to help and go to Syria and be part of the solution and really make a difference…that doesn’t make you a terrorist?
T – What do you think about the UK authorities approach to people travelling to Syria?
AF: I don’t think it’s a good thing…the British authorities have condemned the regime in Syria , yet they don’t do anything to prevent or help the cause of Syria. And people who genuinely want to go there to help …British Muslims in particular are criminalised…which is unfair. If they want to be part of the solution, if they want to go there to genuinely help people…they shouldn’t be criminalised for that, whether they be Muslim or non Muslim . And i think that’s hypocritically of the British authorities to do that.
T – Do you intend to come back to the UK?
AF: Yes I intend to come back
T- A lot of people would be concerned about you coming back to UK. They would say you might pose a threat.
AF: I’ve fought in Afghanistan against the Northern alliance, I fought against the American occupation and then I returned back to the UK after that… I was there for some time. Then I came back to the UK and I was a law abiding citizen in the UK…I didn’t threat or was a security risk in the UK. I’m perfectly normal , I have my beliefs and I think, it’s wrong what’s happening in Syria and that’s why I want to go there…and when I’ve served my time and I think it’s my time to come back I will do that….
T- Do you pose a threat to people in the UK?
Well I’ve fought against the Northern alliance in Afghanistan and i fought the American occupation in Afghanistan…and I returned after that and I lived in the UK as a normal citizen and I was a law abiding citizen and didn’t pose a threat to the British society in any form or way…and that’s what I intend to do after I’ve returned from Syria.
T – Do you consider the UK home?
AF: Yes I do, I consider UK home. I was born here, I went to school here I was educated in the UK and this is my home.
T – What is the thing you miss the most about the UK?
AF: Well I have family here…I have friends here…like I said I’m self-employed this is where I grew up….this is where I’m from
T – Does your family understand?
AF: My family understands, my family supports my fully in this matter and I have their blessing…
T – What brigade or group are you with?
AF: For security reasons I’d rather not disclose the brigade I’m with, but I’m not with ISIS.
T-Do you want an Islamic state in Syria?
AF: Well that’s for the Syrians to decide…I’m going to Syria to help the Syrians. And whether there should be an Islamic state that’s for the Syrians to decide. I’m going to be acting like a servants to Syrians…that’s what I’m going for…I don’t agree with what’s going on in Syria, it’s wrong and the Islamic state can be decided by the Syrians themselves….
T: Do you want to see Sharia in Syria?
AF: Well again it’s totally up to the Syrians to decide…I don’t want to impose my beliefs and my views on Syrians… I don’t want to go there and be a problem. There are many different sects there and it’s totally up to the Syrians to decide…
T – Are you a Salafist?
AF:I’m not a Salafist no…I have friends who are Salafist, I have non-Muslim friends, I have Jewish friends, Christian friend. It’s not really an issue for me if someone is a Salafist… I don’t really care what religious background people are from.
T – How do you think Syrians feel about Brits fighting in Syria?
AF: – I think Syrians are very warm, it’s part of the hospitality of Syrians to welcome people with open arms…if British people will go there and impose their views on them …that will be sort of….I think Syrians are very hospitable, it’s part of their culture to welcome guests with open arms, so if British people were to go there …not imposing their views they will be welcomed with open arms…
T – Many young Brit Muslims thinking of fighting in Syria…what message would you give to them?
AF: I’m experienced in war, I am fighter…I would not recommend anybody who doesn’t have experience in war to go to Syria and cause a problem, become a liability to people. If you have something valuable to contribute then I would recommend…there are other ways to help, you can support the Syrian through your wealth, through medical support…there are various other ways you can help.
T – Would you call on others to join the Jihad in Syria?
AF: Having fought on different fronts … I mean this is my job this is what I do…not unless you have something valuable to contribute to the Syrian cause…if you’re not actually going to help the people, by being there….
T – The precautions we have taken in order to have this interview…is that partially because you fear you will be criminalised by UK authorities…
AF: Yes…it’s going to be problem to the authorities, to the local authorities in the UK …we are going to be criminalised….that’s why these precautions are taken…but, despite the precautions that are taking place it doesn’t stop …I’m motivated because I actually believe that what’s happening in Syria is wrong….that’s the reason I partake and I take this step…
T – So this is worth it? Possibility of your family harassed and home raided?
AF – Yes because Syria is an important place for Muslims, it’s a very blessed land…our Prophet has mentioned Syria again and again in hadith traditions and it’s not a very pleasant place at the moment and it really affects Muslims and non-Muslims alike….so this is totally worth it for me…I would feel bad actually not doing anything, sat at home with wife and kids and taking a blind eye to what’s happening in Syria….
T – Would you have gone if the international community taken on the responsibilities?
AF: Probably, I mean I feel it’s my duty, this is the reason I chose to go to Syria…even, despite the international community stepping in …that would of not prevented me taking a step…or not taking a step….
T – How do you feel about the British government’s response to Syria…how do feel about the international response to Syria?
AF: I think everybody is silent and I think that’s not the desired response…I’ve been to Syria and I’ve always had this connection to the Syrians…and it really makes me ask the questions why is everybody silent…I can’t sit at home and forget about hundreds and hundreds of people dying…it’s not right if you want to help and criminalised for it….
T – You’ve said you don’t recommend young people going to Syria…can you explain why you should be going? Aren’t you just contributing to the problem?
AF: No, I’m experience in war, I’ve got something valuable to contribute to the Syrians…and I’ve fought on different front and I’m experienced and understand tactics and logistics and I really believe I can make a valuable contribution…I don’t recommend young people going…
T-Why?
AF: They could be getting used for different reasons by their own groups…if you don’t understand fully the situation in Syria I don’t recommend anybody going to Syria…it’s not in a very pleasant state at this time…so we need a different type of support….people can help through medical assistance, people can help through their wealth…there are different ways…there are different groups asking for help….so anybody who has a desire to help Syrian…and I believe there are many different people out there…because Muslims and non –Muslims alike are very affected by the whole crisis of Syria and there are many people who would like to contribute to the solution…..
T – You said you fought in Afghanistan…does that mean you fought with Al-Qaeda?
AF: No I haven’t fought with AQ no…there are some parts I agree with….there are some parts I don’t agree with…I don’t believe in killing civilians…I don’t believe in killing innocent women and children…
T – This phenomena in social media….Brit fighters on social media, seemingly committing wars crimes….what’s your response?
AF: Well look I’m a fighter, I’m experienced this is my job…if I have to kill my enemy this is what I will do…I don’t look forward to killing my enemy…our Prophet has mentioned quite specifically that you should never ask for war….if I have to meet my enemy I will have to kill my enemy….but you know this is no joke. So putting pictures, media, cutting people up this is not from the traditions of our Prophet….
T – Once the war in Syria is finished…a lot of people think that people like you will take this Jihad outside of Syria…what’s your response to this?
AF: Well that’s not the case with me….after this all ends I will be going home to my wife and kids….
T – How do you get into Syria?
I have lot of established contacts
T: What message would you give the authorities in regards to Syria…what message would you like to take? If you could speak to Cameron or Theresa May?
AF: The crisis in Syria’s been neglected and silence is not the solution for a country like Britain…everyone will have to bear the sin for what’s happening in Syria…the crisis in Syria…and people have to speak out and to do something about this….and to criminalise people who want to go and actually make a difference is hypocrisy.
T – Do you want people to see you in this same light as people on twitter who call for Jihad?
AF: Not really, that’s not the message I want to give out…I want to give out a more clearer message and get this problem sorted sooner rather than later…later means more and more people getting killed…sooner means Syrians actually…Syria getting itself back together…
T – What’s your opinion about aid convoys…are they making a difference?
AF: I think they are, but a lot of the time they are being stopped as well. A lot of the times they are being stopped as well…there are cases where people have been stopped…there are times people are being kidnapped…why is that happening? Anybody who wants to make difference…anybody who wants to help the cause should be allowed…there are different groups, different people who are imposing their views thinking what they are doing is right….when that is not necessarily the case.
T – The approach of the UK authorities of Brit Muslims travelling to Syria…what’s your opinion on that?
AF: I don’t think it’s fair to be honest, I think it’s against the values, the true values of British society….you know criminalise of victimise….yeah extremisms it being dealt with by the mosques by the locals quite well…I don’t think it should be a big problem if people are motivated by their faith to go and do something good…they should be allowed to just do that…you can’t stop people who are motivated who are affected by something that is wrong…if they believe something that is wrong and they want to make a difference, they should be allowed. I know I can’t sit at home…having gone to Syria, i understand the language, I understand the culture, I can’t really sit at home and watch whilst the regime drop barrel bombs on people, on hospitals, against schools…this is against humanity…this is a humanity issue.
T – Do you think that non-Muslims should be involved in Syria?
AF: Yes of course, I think Muslims and non-Muslims; this is a humanity issue, it’s not an issue of just faith. This is a humanity issue…the regime is committing acts of terrorism. It is something should be condemned and stopped. So yeah I think people, Muslims and Non-Muslims alike should take a stand on this….
http://www.tamhussein.co.(...)-firas/?preview=true