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Turkey repatriates Maldivian allegedly en route to Syria

Fathmath Shaahunaz
08 February 2017, MVT 10:15
Syrian government troops seized a military academy south of Aleppo city, once again encircling the rebel-held districts in the east and placing them under siege, a monitor said. Government forces had been advancing in southern Aleppo for days, with the fighting already creating shortages for the estimated 250,000 people living in the rebel-held parts of the city. But the capture of the academies, which straddle the road running to the eastern neighbourhoods, reinstates the government's encirclement of Aleppo. / AFP PHOTO / GEORGE OURFALIAN
Fathmath Shaahunaz
08 February 2017, MVT 10:15

A Maldivian who was allegedly en route to Syria to take part in its ongoing civil unrest was captured in Turkey and repatriated to the Maldives.

Mihaaru understands that Police raided his residence in capital Male after he was returned to the nation. It remains unclear when he was arrested in Turkey.

Police is yet to disclose any information on the detained local and raid.

A number of Maldivians have already taken part in the civil war in Syria, with several apprehended en route. Some locals repatriated to the Maldives have also been prosecuted as it is a criminal offence to take part in any conflicts or wars outside of the nation, according to the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Those who join terrorist organisations will also be prosecuted under this law.

The government had declared last year June that the number of Maldivians who had gone to take part in external conflicts amount to 49. However, some media reports on people gone to Syria take this amount above 100, while some have also estimated that the numbers are close to 200.

Among the number of Maldivians currently fighting in the civil war in Syria, the deaths of some have been reported back to the country.

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