A British Man who went to Syria to fight against ISIS is currently being remanded at HMP Belmarsh where he is due to be tried at The Old Bailey on suspicion of Terror Related Offences and could face up to 5 years in Prison. This is an extremely complicated and murky case with Aidan James, 27 from Liverpool, having suffered from mental health related issues.
There is growing discontent over the way returning ISIS fighters have been treated with many not being prosecuted. Aidan’s defence team are set to argue that he went to fight for the Kurdish Group the YPG after the Manchester Bombings as he felt he had to do something. The YPG are considered an offshoot of the Turkish Terror Group the PKK which his defence team feel has resulted in these charges being brought about.
Initially he had his passport taken off him by the Security Services but was subsequently given back and he then travelled over to Syria. He then left the YPG and returned to the UK after his mental health deteriorated.
James Matthews was another Briton who previously fought alongside the Kurds but the case against him was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Unity News spoke with Yvonne who is Aidan’s Girlfriend about the situation and Yvonne said:
All we want is Aidan back home safe with his family. Who is Aidan a threat to within the British Public? Why are returning ISIS fighters not all being arrested and treated the same way?
Having spoken with Aidan he most certainly does not encourage ANYONE to go over to either fight for or against ISIS or do what he has done.
This is not our battle to fight and I encourage anyone thinking of going to the Middle East not to do so leaving their families behind worried sick.
Unity News Opinion-
Aidan’s case is an extremely traumatic one for everyone involved and we would like to state that NOBODY should be going over to fight in the Middle East or anywhere in the world for either anti or pro-ISIS militias or any other cause. Whilst we can rightly criticise Government policy we must have faith in our British Troops to do the job if called upon.
The situation in Syria and Iraq is an extremely complicated one and so many young, naïve and vulnerable people have been used and exploited. The intricacies of regional and tribal conflicts can become blurred and likewise there are many different organisations not always engaged in what they claim to be doing.
That being said anyone who has been responsible for criminal acts or terror acts or who poses a risk to the British Public should face the full force of British Justice upon their return and we are concerned at the number of pro-ISIS jihadis returning who appear to roam our streets with impunity.
Yvonne and the campaign to free Aidan maintains that he is innocent of the charges against him so we must keep our faith in the British Justice System that if this is the case he will be released home.
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