Disillusioned British jihadists beg to come home

Dozens of British jihadists fighting in Syria and Iraq have contacted intermediary groups in the UK appealing for amnesty and "begging to come home", according to The Times.

One jihadist contacted researchers at the International Centre for Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence (ICSR) at King's College London claiming to speak on behalf of a group of 30 fighters, all of whom wanted to return to Britain.

The man reportedly expressed fears that he and his comrades would face long jail terms if they attempted to return to the UK, but said that they would be willing to submit themselves to deradicalisation programmes and police monitoring.

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It is believed that at least 500 Britons have travelled to the region since 2011, most of whom have ended up in groups affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) but many have grown disillusioned with the conflict.

The British man told researchers: "We came to fight the regime and instead we are involved in gang warfare. It's not what we came for but if we go back [to Britain] we will go to jail. Right now we are being forced to fight – what option do we have?"

The ICSR's Professor Peter Neumann told newspaper: "The people we have been talking to... want to quit but feel trapped because all the Government is talking about is locking them up for 30 years."

Neumann believes that up to 20 per cent of volunteers may be looking for a way to get out. He said that allowing less-hardened jihadists to return home could be a good way to fight back against the IS propaganda war, as returning fighters could be enlisted to tell the other side of the story.

At least 40 of the estimated 250 British citizens who have returned from the region have been arrested and are now facing trial on terrorism charges, the Daily Mail reports.

Last week, Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, said he supported deradicalisation programmes for UK citizens who were "on the fringes of extremism in Syria and Iraq".