UK jails two citizens for joining terrorist groups

Two Britons have been given prison sentences of nearly 13 years after admitting they had joined terrorist groups fighting against the Syrian government.

The two, arrested by police in London Heathrow Airport in January, had been reported missing by their families. Upon their return, they were accused of travelling to Syria with the intention of committing acts of terrorism.

Nahin Ahmad and Yusuf Sarwar, both residents of England’s second largest city, Birmingham, had told their families they were going to Turkey for holidays. The court, however, has given them prison sentences for 12 years and eight months. The judge in the case has described them fundamentalists with deep interests in violence and extremism.

The sentence has an extended license period of five years. The families of the defendants have vowed to appeal against the sentence calling it too long. Similar suspects have been given shorter sentences for similar charges.

The British government has constantly backed the militants fighting against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The policy, according to many, has influenced many young Britons to engage in terrorist activities abroad, especially in Syria.

Around 500 British citizens are believed to have travelled to Syria and Iraq to help terrorists in those countries. The UK government has warned that Britain is facing one of the biggest security threats in history as those returning home can spread their ideology in the society.