Two Maldivians, en route to Syria, arrested from Turkey
The two were brought back to Maldives on Friday
While a number of Maldivians have been traveling to Syria to join the Islamic State, this is not the first a Maldivian has been arrested in the process
Two Maldivians have been arrested from Turkey, while on route to join the Syrian civil war.
According to the Maldives Police Service (MPS), the two were brought to the Maldives on Friday, and were given a 15-day remand the same day.
Police further said that they were arrested while attempting to enter Syria, via Turkey.
However, police did not reveal any details of the two, instead saying that no further information can be shared at the time.
Back in September, three Maldivians were arrested from Turkey, also while attempting to join the Syrian conflict.
Police had said that the trio was arrested "in a joint special operation conducted by MPS and Turkish authorities".
Furthermore, two Maldivians were arrested in Malaysia in August, over allegations of using Malaysia and Singapore "as a transit point before heading to Syria to join IS".
While the two were extradited to the Maldives earlier this month, there have been reports that they "are no longer in police custody". MPS refused to comment on the matter.
According to international experts and agencies, Maldives "has the world's highest per capita of fighters in the region". However, the government denies this, maintaining that the number "is well below 50".
