Sunday, July 21, 2019

'We're just doing what God told us to do': Confronting ISIS face-to-face

Posted to 9News (Jul 21, 2019): 'We're just doing what God told us to do': Confronting ISIS face-to-face (By Sammi Taylor • 60 Minutes Digital Producer)



The terror group Islamic State is luring Philippines’ locals to join its extremist mission with the promise of money and weapons, a 60 Minutes report has found.

ISIS recruits in the southern Philippines are earning a monthly wage when they join the ranks of Islamic State, with new followers telling 60 Minutes hundreds of disillusioned men are now pledging their allegiance to the terror organisation.

Despite the Philippines military regaining control of Marawi city – ISIS' former stronghold in East Asia – the threat of Islamic State still looms large and is frighteningly close to Australia.


The frightening new battle ground of Islamic State. (60 Minutes)


'Sadam' claims he's "just doing what God told us to do". (60 Minutes)

60 Minutes reporter Liam Bartlett came face-to-face with ISIS recruits in the Philippines who say they will stop at nothing to fulfil the pledge they’ve made to Islamic State.

“We will kill the people who’s going to kill us,” ISIS recruit ‘Sadam’ told Bartlett in the shocking interview.

“We’re just doing what God told us to do.”

Sadam says he was just 21 years old when foreign fighters offered him money and weapons to join their extremist group in the southern Philippines city of Marawi.

“They give us money, guns. Then every month, they give us income,” he said.


Marawi City has been decimated by terrorism. (60 Minutes)

The promise of a monthly wage is an attractive prospect for many young men living in poverty in the Philippines.

But for Sadam it’s no longer just about money.

The 24-year-old now lives and breathes Islamic State’s sickening ideology and says foreign fighters have trained him in warfare against non-believers. 

“ISIS is telling the God’s order and that’s definitely what will make us go to paradise,” he told Bartlett.


But it’s not just the young and vulnerable joining the extremists’ ranks – there are also disillusioned fathers in their 50s pledging their allegiance.

Ked, 54, believe ISIS can offer him a better life, even after Islamic State was defeated in 2017 in the Marawi city siege.


“There will be even more people who will join this fight if it happens… two thousand people,” he told Bartlett.Ked is 54 and believes ISIS can offer him a better life. (60 Minutes)

The knowledge that Australian soldiers are on the ground training local troops doesn’t deter Sadam.
“We have foreign people, special forces, that train us, too,” he said.

Disturbingly, for fighters like Sadam and Ked, the prospect of another city siege – or suicide bombing attacks in urban cities – is a fight they are openly preparing for.

“If that’s what our leader says, then we would be happy to do [it],” Sadam said.
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