Jihadists defecting from Daesh after failed promises of heroism, luxury cars

Jihadists are defecting from Daesh after their “Islamist utopia” of luxury cars and “heroism” never materialized, according to The Telegraph.

Others have fled the terror group because of fears they were to be used as “cannon fodder” or suicide bombers.

Having to carry out “dull duties” and a lack of frontline action and was also blamed by some for them leaving, a report has found.

At least 58 people have left the group since January last year but the true figure is likely to be far higher, the research by International Center for the Study of Radicalization and Political Violence (ICSR) concluded.

That figure is likely to be just a fraction of “those disillusioned, ready to defect, and or willing to go public", it found.

Some of those who left were disappointed by the "quality of life" and were “typically among the ones who had joined the group for material and ‘selfish’ reasons, and quickly realized that none of the luxury goods and cars that they had been promised would materialize”.

Power shortages and a lack of basic goods was also blamed while two said they left after hearing they were to be used as suicide bombers.

“They wanted to first experience fighting and get an opportunity to enjoy the spoils of war before going on their final mission,” the report said.

The report said the defections had been "sufficiently frequent to shatter Daesh image as a united, cohesive and ideologically committed organization".

Source: MENA