Life under Isis: Why I deserted the 'Islamic State' rather than take part in executions, beheadings and rape - the story of a former jihadi

Hamza is a 33-year-old from Fallujah, a city ruled by Islamic State 40 miles west of Baghdad, who became an Isis fighter last year after being attracted by its appeal to his religious feelings. Two months ago, however, he defected, after being asked to help execute people he knew – and being appalled by invitations to join in what amounted to rape of captured Yazidi women.

In an interview with The Independent, given in the safety of another country, he gives a vivid account of why he joined Isis, what it was like to be a member of the jihadist group, and why he left. He reveals extraordinary details about how the army of Isis operates, the elaborate training that its fighters receive in Iraq and Syria and the way in which taking part in executions is an initiation rite, proof of the commitment and loyalty of fighters.  

An intelligent, idealistic, well-educated, and religious man, Hamza defected from Isis after six months as a trainee and a fighter because he was deeply upset by the executions, some of them of people he knew in Fallujah. He became conscious that if he stayed in Isis he would soon have to carry out an execution himself. “I don’t like Shia but when it comes to killing them I was shocked,” he says.

Isis Replaced Christian's Cross Into Isis Flag

Shocking new images released today have shown ISIS terrorists toppling crosses, smashing Christian relics with hammers and erecting the black flag of ISIS on churches in Iraq.

The latest photos show the militants vandalising churches in Nineveh, the ancient capital of the Assyrian empire.

Pictured in civilian clothing, the ISIS thugs are seen overturning statues, destroying religious icons and replacing Christian crosses with the chilling ISIS banner.

This chilling image shows an ISIS thug destroying a cross on a church and replacing it with the ISIS bannerDressed in civilian clothing, a militant takes a claw hammer to a priceless relief at a Nineveh churchISIS have killed Christians who have refused to convert to Islam and want to cleanse its caliphate of its Christian heritage 

The disturbing images - provided by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) - are the latest evidence of ISIS trying to cleanse its caliphate of its Christian heritage.

Mauka Mauka:7 things you didn't know about the Mauka Mauka advertisement guy

He is the guy behind Mauka advertisement. Meet Vishal Malhotra and here are several facts about him which you probably didn’t know

He was overweight. He shed 40 kgs before appearing on screen.



He has worked with Shah Rukh Khan. This guy has worked with Shah Rukh Khan in a Lux Onn ad commercial.

He is an engineer. The man has an engineering degree and has also worked for Accenture. He quit his job and enrolled in Balaji acting school in Mumbai.



He is a 25 years old. Though the advertisement portrays him as an uncle.

Kya samjha hai? This guy has also worked with Sunny Leone in a cameo role in Ragini MMS2.

He has also featured in other commercials like SonyLiv.com Boss ad, KFC's Hot and Saucy ad and also Priya Gold Biscuits advertisement.

Mentally Sick Man Shot Dead By Isis After Slapping Isis Guard

An innocent man with severe mental disabilities was reportedly shot and left to die in the streets by ISIS police in Syria.

Whilst passing through a checkpoint, an ISIS police officer began to interrogate the mentally disabled man.

His rough treatment and apparent disregard for the man's health condition led to the IS militant being slapped on the face by the innocent man. 

Brutal regime: ISIS have become well known for their extreme use of violence in governing parts of Syria and Iraq.

 The brutal ISIS police officer pulled out his gun and shot the disabled man several times from close range.

Nearby residents were prevented from coming to the dying man's aid, forced to watch as he was left to bleed to death on his own.  

The man's death was first reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London based human rights group focused on the conflict in Syria. 

The London based human rights group have reported that the atrocity happened in the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor, renamed by ISIS as Al Kheir.

Local sources confirmed that a young man, suffering from a debilitating mental illness had been murdered by ISIS. 

According to activists, the young man was targeted at a checkpoint inside the city of al-Mayadin.

Rape accused Hanged By Peoples On Road

In a shocking incident of mob justice, a 1,500 strong crowd  broke into a jail in Dimapur district in Nagaland, and lynched a man accused of raping a girl.

The man, identified as 35-year-old Syed Farid Khan, was in custody after being arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a girl who was his neighbour multiple times between 23 and 24 February.

According to one report, Khan dealt in second hand vehicles and had called the girl over for a meal but then raped her after she was intoxicated. He then reportedly took her to a hotel where she was sexually assaulted again.

After the girl filed a complaint with the police on 24 February, Khan was arrested on the same day.

However, the issue was also taken up by the Naga Student's Forum, the Western Sumi Hoho and other groups, due to the girl being from the Naga community.

A lot of the anger over the incident had been reportedly sparked by the fact that Khan was seen as an illegal immigrant.

A protest rally had been organised at the clock tower in the district headquarters on Thursday to protest the incident. the police had given permission for a peaceful rally to be held.

But around 4 pm, a mob marched to the Dimapur district jail, where police officials reportedly used batons and tear gas, but were unable to control the crowd.

While some reports said that the mob overpowered the guards,according to the Telegraph, the jail authorities let the protesters inspect the cells so that they could then identify the accused who had been shifted there from the police station. In the chaos, three other inmates, who have been charged under sections of the National Security Act also fled, said the report.

After finding Khan, the mob reportedly stripped him and then dragged him in the streets to the site of the protest, stoning him and beating him along the entire the 7-km route, according to an Indian Express report.

Khan had succumbed to his injuries by the time the mob reached the site of the protest but when the police attempted to take the body back, the mob began pelting stones. The police then had to disperse the protesters using batons but the mob went on to target shops in the Purana Bazar area of the district, where Khan had owned a shop. One personwas reportedly killed in police firing.

Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang condemned the incident saying it wasn't a a communal incident and called it a serious security lapse.

"I condemn those who take the law into their own hands," he said.

The state has sent additional forces to the district to prevent any further violence. An emergency cabinet meeting also was held at at the residential office of the chief minister to take stock of the law and order situation in Dimapur.

The state government has also instituted a high-level committee to inquire into the incident and find out the circumstances leading to it. The committee will also inquire into the lapses or shortcomings on the part of any public servant in connection with the incident and the person or group of persons responsible for the violence leading to the death of the accused in the hands of the mob.

Meanwhile the Home Ministry has also asked the Nagaland government for a report into the incident.