Burnt passports, 'djinn' ensure there is no way back

 The Islamic State (IS) is brainwashing recruits from South Asia and certain African countries from fleeing from their army by invoking the fear of ‘djinn’ — a character in Islamic mythology — and by burning their passports.

A report prepared by Indian security establishment showed that the “less-motivated” recruits from South Asia are brainwashed by invoking the fear of djinn, the supernatural creatures mentioned in Islamic mythology, to prevent them from returning to their homelands. The IS instills the fear of “djinn” haunting them for the rest of their lives if they leave the outfit.

The passports of recruits from South Asia and certain African countries are also “usually burnt” upon their arrival in Iraq or Syria to prevent them from flying back to their countries. The report also said Chinese, Indians, Nigerians and Pakistanis are housed together and are monitored closely by the IS Police — comprising only those of Tunisian, Palestinian, Saudi Arabian, Iraqi and Syrian origin.

“There is a clear trust deficit between the dominant Arab fighters and the fighters from other nationalities, who are mostly attracted to IS through its sophisticated propaganda techniques on the Internet,” the report said.