Woman doctor among 22 Malaysians reportedly with IS in Syria

Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division Principal assistant director, SAC Datuk Ayub Khan Mydin Pitchay, said the doctor was married to a Malaysian who was a member of the IS group.

He also said a couple, a 23-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman, who hailed from Selangor and Terengganu, respectively, were also among the 22 in Syria.

"A Malaysian man aged 35 had also gone to Syria with his 46-year-old wife, a foreign national," he told Bernama when contacted.

IS has taken control of huge areas in Syria and Iraq and proclaimed a caliphate. Its members are drawn from people in the two countries as well as foreigners.

Ayub Khan said the doctor was attempting to influence Malaysian women through a Facebook account and added that this was worrying.

"We are trying to establish the identity and background of and obtain more information about the woman's family. We are investigating how she could have been influenced to go there (Syria).

"Of course, she can use Facebook to draw women and girls easily. She can share photographs to show that accommodation and food are provided and they would only be involved in fighting alongside the mujahiddeen," he said.

However, he said, they would not be aware that there was exploitation of women and girls as sex slaves of the militants although so far it might not have involved Malaysians.

The United Nations has reported that the IS militants had kidnapped women and girls and forced them to be sex slaves.

Since the launch of a special operation by the Counter Terrorism Division on April 28, 22 individuals have been detained on suspicion of having been involved in militant activities.