In Syria I learned that Islamic State longs to provoke retaliation. We should not topple into the trapAs a proud Frenchman I am as distressed as anyone about the events in Paris. But I am not shocked or incredulous. I know Islamic State. I spent 10 months as an Isis hostage,and I know for certain that our pain, our grief, and our hopes,our lives attain not touch them. Theirs is a world apart.
Most people only know them from their propaganda material, but I have seen behind that. In my time as their captive, and I met perhaps a dozen of them,including Mohammed Emwazi: Jihadi John was one of my jailers. He nicknamed me “Baldy”.
Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com