Prague, Sept 11 (CTK) – A group of Czechs, irritated by the West’s passive approach to Islamic State, have decided to leave for Syria to fight IS together with the local armed forces, though Czech legislation bans such step as inadmissible and unlawful, daily Pravo wrote Friday.
The West’s inactivity made Jindrich Vostry so angry that he decided to join the fighting. Although he is not a soldier, he addressed the Czech Defence Ministry, the Foreign Ministry and the Presidential Office, asking for permission to join the Syrian military.
The authorities turned his application down, saying he would pose a risk for national security, the paper writes.
Most recently, he got in touch with other Czechs and they want to join the Syrian fighting illegally, Pravo writes.
Czech law enables to punish citizens with up to 10 years in jail for joining a foreign military.
Vostry has been considering joining the anti-IS fight for a long time.
“I was mainly motivated by the information about the emergence of a unit of female anti-IS fighters. Women, who should stay at home, raise children and look forward to see their husband returning from work, have to fight in Syria, while our soldiers relax in military barracks,” Vostry told Pravo.
After he found out on the Liberty Lions Facebook page, which associates fans of anti-IS fighters, that a Czech man, referred to as Rene, is fighting in Syria, he immediately joined the debate and showed interest in joining the anti-IS forces.
Such interest has been expressed by more Facebook users, Pravo writes.
“I have been addressed by a Czech man who is planning to go there together with two friends. He is going to meet someone who was there in the past. They will discuss a way for us to get to Syria,” Vostry is quoted as saying.
They will be transferring weapons, which is why they have to go by car, which they will leave near the Turkish border. They want to cross the Turkish-Syrian border on foot, without any permit, Pravo writes.
“I fear what the situation there might be. It will probably be far from easy to find the right group of fighters [to join]. I’m afraid I may be killed still before I start shooting,” Vostry said.
He said he wants to take his two legally possessed short firearms to Syria, and to buy an automatic rifle and other equipment on the spot.
Originally, Vostry wanted to join the official Syrian army, but he finally decided to join the Kurdish militia, which, he believes, include Czech fighters already.
“A man has written to me in Czech, describing the situation there and saying I should not expect to earn money there. However, I’m no mercenary, I’m not seeking profit there. I’m not going there for the sake of money,” Vostry told the daily.
He said he plans to leave for Syria in winter. By then, he wants to settle his property affairs in case he perished abroad.
“I don’t have a family of my own, and I don’t get on well with my father. I only want my mother to be secured…I have some plots, a house. I must make my will,” he said.
He admits he feels scared of death and also of killing others.
