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The British Muslims taking aid to Syria: 'I can't imagine anyone getting radicalised by going to a refugee camp' The British Muslims taking aid to Syria: 'I can't imagine anyone getting radicalised by going to a refugee camp'
(about 3 hours later)
Outside his office, near Manchester, Kasim Jameel, known to his friends as Kas, packs a second-hand ambulance with baby milk and nappies. Bold letters along the side of the vehicle read: "BOLTON 2 SYRIA. SYRIA IS CALLING. WE WILL ANSWER." Jameel supplies cars to taxi firms for a living, though he doesn't spend much time at work any more.Outside his office, near Manchester, Kasim Jameel, known to his friends as Kas, packs a second-hand ambulance with baby milk and nappies. Bold letters along the side of the vehicle read: "BOLTON 2 SYRIA. SYRIA IS CALLING. WE WILL ANSWER." Jameel supplies cars to taxi firms for a living, though he doesn't spend much time at work any more.
Jameel is British Pakistani, with a broad Bolton accent, but he says Syria feels more like home.Jameel is British Pakistani, with a broad Bolton accent, but he says Syria feels more like home.
This will be his 11th trip to Syria since the conflict began in 2011. He is one of hundreds of Muslims who have made the seven-day, 3,000-mile road trip to provide aid. To make a small dent in the situation there; to "do what he can", as he puts it.This will be his 11th trip to Syria since the conflict began in 2011. He is one of hundreds of Muslims who have made the seven-day, 3,000-mile road trip to provide aid. To make a small dent in the situation there; to "do what he can", as he puts it.
As far as the UK government is concerned, missions such as these are not helping – and worse, might even be radicalising young Muslims who could return ready to turn their sights on Britain. When the convoys first started leaving the UK they were barely noticed. Now, things are different. A recent jihadi recruitment video, featuring young British Muslims from Cardiff and Aberdeen calling for Brits to join Isis, has made the threat more real than ever. Everyone on this convoy has been categorically told not to travel by police; some have been visited at home by police. One of the group is asked to call the police if they hear or see anything that indicates the mission is anything other than humanitarian.As far as the UK government is concerned, missions such as these are not helping – and worse, might even be radicalising young Muslims who could return ready to turn their sights on Britain. When the convoys first started leaving the UK they were barely noticed. Now, things are different. A recent jihadi recruitment video, featuring young British Muslims from Cardiff and Aberdeen calling for Brits to join Isis, has made the threat more real than ever. Everyone on this convoy has been categorically told not to travel by police; some have been visited at home by police. One of the group is asked to call the police if they hear or see anything that indicates the mission is anything other than humanitarian.
Our convoy of three ambulances carrying nine British Muslims from Rochdale, Preston, Derby, Luton, east London and Birmingham leaves the rendezvous point in London and starts the long journey east. Some know each other, others have met for the first time. For the next week, we drive slowly and nervously through nine countries to get to the destination: the border town of Ad Dana.Our convoy of three ambulances carrying nine British Muslims from Rochdale, Preston, Derby, Luton, east London and Birmingham leaves the rendezvous point in London and starts the long journey east. Some know each other, others have met for the first time. For the next week, we drive slowly and nervously through nine countries to get to the destination: the border town of Ad Dana.
Why are people like Jameel willing to take the risk? The government has warned against travel to Syria "under any circumstances". It says people who do go could have their passports or permission to remain in the UK taken away. Jameel is ignoring this: "They want to take my passport from me? They want to jail me? Arrest me for taking baby milk, for taking ambulances, baby food? Being made stateless for taking help to the Syrians - fine – if that happens, so be it."Why are people like Jameel willing to take the risk? The government has warned against travel to Syria "under any circumstances". It says people who do go could have their passports or permission to remain in the UK taken away. Jameel is ignoring this: "They want to take my passport from me? They want to jail me? Arrest me for taking baby milk, for taking ambulances, baby food? Being made stateless for taking help to the Syrians - fine – if that happens, so be it."
Pressure doesn't just come from the law, of course. Jameel's wife, Sadia, is supportive but has been trying to persuade him to spend less time away: "I just wish he would go there less often, find a different way to send the aid. I think he just wants to make sure it gets to the right places, to the people who need it." One man who had been before opted out when his wife threatened to leave him.Pressure doesn't just come from the law, of course. Jameel's wife, Sadia, is supportive but has been trying to persuade him to spend less time away: "I just wish he would go there less often, find a different way to send the aid. I think he just wants to make sure it gets to the right places, to the people who need it." One man who had been before opted out when his wife threatened to leave him.
The journey is exhausting. We sleep in short shifts of two or three hours at a time in car parks. They're running almost entirely on biscuits and cans of Red Bull, kept awake by a mix of jokes, weighty debate, and general good humour. The three ambulances have radios, used to keep the convoy co-ordinated, but with a useful secondary function of allowing the crews to swap banter to keep morale up. There's barely time to wash, not that anyone cares, least of all Jameel.The journey is exhausting. We sleep in short shifts of two or three hours at a time in car parks. They're running almost entirely on biscuits and cans of Red Bull, kept awake by a mix of jokes, weighty debate, and general good humour. The three ambulances have radios, used to keep the convoy co-ordinated, but with a useful secondary function of allowing the crews to swap banter to keep morale up. There's barely time to wash, not that anyone cares, least of all Jameel.
The smelly and cramped conditions are "just a taster of what Syrians are going through". He's focused on the mission: aid agencies, he says, are not operating in the areas where help is most needed. The ambulances themselves will be needed because vehicles are in short supply in Syria. The group also say that, as Muslims, it is their duty and not a choice to help those suffering in Syria.The smelly and cramped conditions are "just a taster of what Syrians are going through". He's focused on the mission: aid agencies, he says, are not operating in the areas where help is most needed. The ambulances themselves will be needed because vehicles are in short supply in Syria. The group also say that, as Muslims, it is their duty and not a choice to help those suffering in Syria.
MI5 has publicly stated that one of its top priorities is now returning fighters from Syria – young men radicalised by conflict and potentially motivated to continue the struggle here. This convoy is made up of ordinary people: who knows how they will be affected by what they see? As we bump along, the ambulances overheating and breaking down in the rising temperatures, Jameel explains that he's not worried. "These people will come back – they will see refugee camps with their own eyes. I for one, cannot imagine anyone getting radicalised by going to a refugee camp and seeing an orphan or an old lady without a husband." That's not how the police see it, of course – as the convoy passes through Dover, officers hand over a document that reads: "Even if you travel to Syria for humanitarian reasons, you are very likely to come into contact with terrorist groups and may get drawn into their activities." Jameel shrugs his shoulders: "We don't want people to join any terrorist groups; we don't want people to behead other people. We are humanitarians – we go to help." Though I'm invited into Syria with the group, I stop at the border.MI5 has publicly stated that one of its top priorities is now returning fighters from Syria – young men radicalised by conflict and potentially motivated to continue the struggle here. This convoy is made up of ordinary people: who knows how they will be affected by what they see? As we bump along, the ambulances overheating and breaking down in the rising temperatures, Jameel explains that he's not worried. "These people will come back – they will see refugee camps with their own eyes. I for one, cannot imagine anyone getting radicalised by going to a refugee camp and seeing an orphan or an old lady without a husband." That's not how the police see it, of course – as the convoy passes through Dover, officers hand over a document that reads: "Even if you travel to Syria for humanitarian reasons, you are very likely to come into contact with terrorist groups and may get drawn into their activities." Jameel shrugs his shoulders: "We don't want people to join any terrorist groups; we don't want people to behead other people. We are humanitarians – we go to help." Though I'm invited into Syria with the group, I stop at the border.
How can Jameel prove he's not fighting – or funnelling money to fighters – when he goes off radar, within Syria? Some British fighters have come into the country with aid convoys, and a number of charities are being investigated amid fears that convoys have been used to funnel money. With this in mind, the group is travelling without a charity affiliation; those taking an ambulance have had to raise their own funds to make the journey. "I think it is pretty obvious that I am not going to Syria to fight," says Jameel. "Last time, I was there for three days. I got stopped under the Schedule 7 Terrorism Act and I asked them quite clearly: 'Do you think I've had some sort of interaction with either terrorists or I am involved in terrorism?' They said, 'Yes,' so I answered their questions."How can Jameel prove he's not fighting – or funnelling money to fighters – when he goes off radar, within Syria? Some British fighters have come into the country with aid convoys, and a number of charities are being investigated amid fears that convoys have been used to funnel money. With this in mind, the group is travelling without a charity affiliation; those taking an ambulance have had to raise their own funds to make the journey. "I think it is pretty obvious that I am not going to Syria to fight," says Jameel. "Last time, I was there for three days. I got stopped under the Schedule 7 Terrorism Act and I asked them quite clearly: 'Do you think I've had some sort of interaction with either terrorists or I am involved in terrorism?' They said, 'Yes,' so I answered their questions."
Across the border, Jameel and the others deliver their aid and leave the ambulances for use in Syria. The aid goes mainly to camps near the town of Ad Dana – an area largely controlled by the Islamic Front (a newly formed merger of other rebel groups). Isis was driven out of the area earlier in the year.Across the border, Jameel and the others deliver their aid and leave the ambulances for use in Syria. The aid goes mainly to camps near the town of Ad Dana – an area largely controlled by the Islamic Front (a newly formed merger of other rebel groups). Isis was driven out of the area earlier in the year.
As we start the journey home, Jameel is looking forward to seeing his family, but devastated to be out of Syria. He has made a decision to stop the land convoys after this one, partly to spend more time with his children but also because government pressure on his companions means many no longer want to go. He will continue flying via Turkey to deliver aid from there.As we start the journey home, Jameel is looking forward to seeing his family, but devastated to be out of Syria. He has made a decision to stop the land convoys after this one, partly to spend more time with his children but also because government pressure on his companions means many no longer want to go. He will continue flying via Turkey to deliver aid from there.
Questions about whether he's engaging in charity work or something more sinister will continue. Jameel says he supports fighters, though he makes a distinction between those he says are "legitimately" fighting Assad in Syria, and the brutal tactics of groups like Isis. "If a Muslim goes to Syria to fight against a barbaric regime, against a dictatorship that is killing innocent men, women and children, they are not terrorists, they're heroes. And if anybody thinks anything else, then they don't understand the situation. Or they are choosing not to understand the situation."Questions about whether he's engaging in charity work or something more sinister will continue. Jameel says he supports fighters, though he makes a distinction between those he says are "legitimately" fighting Assad in Syria, and the brutal tactics of groups like Isis. "If a Muslim goes to Syria to fight against a barbaric regime, against a dictatorship that is killing innocent men, women and children, they are not terrorists, they're heroes. And if anybody thinks anything else, then they don't understand the situation. Or they are choosing not to understand the situation."
• Catrin Nye's documentary, Destination Syria, is on the BBC Asian Network at 5pm on 4 July • Catrin Nye's documentary, Destination Syria, is on the BBC Asian Network at 5pm on 4 July and and on Our World on the BBC News Channel at 21.30 on Sat 5th July and Sunday 6th July