‘I cleaned toilets for ISIS in Iraq,’ ex-fighter reveals

An Indian man who had travelled to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militant group said his commanders made him perform menial tasks such as cleaning toilets and was not allowed to fight in the battle field.

Areeb Majeed made these claims during questioning by Indian authorities after he was arrested upon his arrival in Mumbai Friday, following an almost six-month stay in Iraq, the Times of India reported.

According to a National Investigation Agency (NIA) official quoted by the newspaper, Majeed said that while he and three of his friends received training, ISIS commanders considered Indians physically weak.

He was repeatedly denied participation in fighting he said, and instead cleaned bathrooms and fetched water for fighters.

“There was neither a holy war nor any of the preaching in the holy book were followed. ISIS fighters raped many a woman there,” Majeed reportedly said, the official claimed.

The 23-year-old’s enthusiasm for the battlefield weakened following a gun wound which he said was not attended to for three days.

“Only after I begged them, I was taken to a hospital. I was treating myself, but the injury was worsening as there was no proper medication or food available in the camps,” Majeed reportedly told investigators.

Additionally, he revealed the names of the India-based contacts “who radicalized him and his three other friends here, and helped them fly to Iraq.”

“We are verifying his claims and are trying to locate these local contacts,” an official said.