’ISIL’ Kills 3 of Its Chinese Militants

Local Editor

"ISIL" has killed three Chinese militants who joined its ranks in Syria and Iraq and later attempted to flee, a Chinese state-run newspaper said, the latest account of fighters from China embroiled in the conflict.

China has expressed concern about the rise of "ISIL", nervous about the effect it could have on its Xinjiang region, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Around 300 Chinese extremists were fighting with "ISIL" after travelling to Turkey, the Global Times, a tabloid run by China's ruling Communist Party's official newspaper, said in December.

The paper on Thursday cited an unnamed Kurdish security official as saying that a Chinese man was "arrested, tried and shot dead" in Syria in late September by "ISIL" after he became disillusioned with the so-called "jihad" and attempted to return to Turkey to attend university.

"Another two Chinese militants were beheaded in late December in Iraq, along with 11 others from six countries. The "ISIL" charged them with treason and accused them of trying to escape," the official said, according to the paper.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei did not comment on the report at a regular press briefing, but said China was opposed to "all forms of terrorism".
"China is willing to work with the international community to combat terrorist forces, including ETIM, and safeguard global peace, security and stability," Hong said.

China has criticized the Turkish government for offering shelter to Uighur refugees who have fled through southeast Asia, saying it creates a global security risk.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team