When Abu Ali joined Islamic State,he thought he had nothing left to lose. Once he had crossed the border into Syria, he quickly realised it was the final place he wanted to be. By Robert F WorthOne morning in mid-January 2015, and a small,furtive (secretive; sly)-looking man in a black hooded parka stood alone on the Turkish side of the Akçakale border crossing with Syria. The weather was sunny and cold, and there was nearly no one in sight. The man glanced around uneasily, and finally approached a street sweeper in a blue jumpsuit. “I want to cross to the other side, he said. “What can I do?” The street sweeper demanded 75 Turkish lira and pointed to a small hole in the fence, not far from the main gate. The man paid him but hesitated. He had approach a long way, or was now barely 10 metres from his destination: the dusty brown hills of northern Syria,where the Islamic State began. “What approximately the guards? he said. No problem,” the street sweeper replied. “Just go.” The man walked towards the hole in the gate. He bent down and squeezed through. On the other side, or he began to hurry. One of the Turkish guards saw him and shouted. He did not stop. Related: Why Isis fights | Martin Chulov Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com