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UK doctor recruited by IS: report

A doctor left his job as a doctor in the UK to fight for the Islamic State in Syria, leaked recruitment documents seen by the BBC show.

IS recruited practising British doctor
IS recruited practising British doctor Source: SBS On Demand

A British doctor left his job at the National Health Service (NHS) to fight for the Islamic State in Syria, according to the BBC.

Issam Abuanza, who is married and has two young children, crossed into Syria on the 26th of July 2014. 

The 37-year-old was accredited to practice medicine in the UK in 2009 and had been working as a medical registrar in Sheffield. He had previously worked at Scarborough Hospital.

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Facebook status updates by the doctor demonstrate support for Islamic extremism, while images depict him holding an automatic rifle and reading the Koran.

Abuanza has not updated his social media profile since October 2015, the BBC reports. His current whereabouts are also unknown, though last year he was seen in the Deir Ezzour province in eastern Syria.

The doctor’s sister, Najla, said her parents had become unwell after learning of their son’s actions.

"He used to be quite the dashing young man, very modern. I've no idea how he became like this or who showed him the path to terror,” she told the BBC.

“My dad's wish was to see him before he dies. He has spent all his money on him and his education and this is what he does."

Security Minister John Hayes told the BBC that Abuanza was one of many British citizens that IS were attempting to recruit.

“They [IS] are trying to corrupt British people of all types, encouraging them to murder and maim their neighbours and to go and fight in Syria."


2 min read

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By SBS News

Source: SBS



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