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The six suspects

Negev teachers charged with spreading ISIS dogma to their students

Shin Bet nabs six suspected of trying to spread ISIS teachings among Bedouins; three of them were charged with attempt to travel to Syria to join Islamic State.

The Shin Bet said Monday it has arrested six Bedouins from the Negev, four of them teachers, who are suspected of supporting the Islamic State and spreading the terror group's dogma among family, friends and even students.

 

 

"The investigation uncovered that the suspects met secretly to discuss and promote Islamic State's ideology," Shin Bet said.

  

Some started spreading the organization's beliefs among their family, friends and acquaintances, while some had also planned to travel abroad to join ISIS' ranks in the fighting in Syria.

 

The Shin Bet claimed that the four teachers tried to spread the Islamic State's teachings among their students and among other teachers on school premises.

 

"The hard core among the activists are employed at schools in the Negev. Some took advantage of their position and attempted to plead the case for ISIS among pupils and teachers on school premises," it added. 

 

The six suspects
The six suspects

 

The Shin Bet also investigated some of the other teachers working in the suspects' schools, as well as a principle in one of the schools, who is suspected of knowing about the suspects' illegal activity and not taking action against it. In his questioning, the principle claimed ignorance of the suspects' illegal activities.

 

Bashir Abu al-Qian, 26, is a teacher at a primary school in Hura, where he also resides. He was arrested on May 17 and confessed to spreading Islamic State's dogma on social media and sending ISIS videos to his family, friends and acquaintances. He was charged on June 11 at the Be'er Sheva District Court with possessing, publishing, and spreading materials of an unlawful organization, and supporting a terrorist organization.

 

Akram Abu al-Qian, 26, a resident of Hura and a teacher at a primary school in Rahat, was arrested on June 2 and confessed to supporting the Islamic State and to attending ISIS meetings in Hura. He was charged on June 22 at the Be'er Sheva District Court with attending an assembly of an outlawed group.  

 

Issa Abu al-Qian, 27, also a resident of Hura, was arrested on June 13 and confessed to supporting ISIS and attending ISIS meetings in Hura. He also admitted to planning to leave for Syria in July 2015 in order to join ISIS, while pretending to go to Saudi Arabia. He was charged on July 1 at the Be'er Sheva District Court with conspiring to commit a crime, an attempt to commit unlawful activity as part of an unlawful organization, attending an unlawful assembly and attempting to unlawfully leave the country.

 

Mohammed Abu al-Qian, 27, is a teacher at a high school in Hura, where he also resides. He was arrested on June 2 and confessed to supporting ISIS and attending ISIS meetings in Hura. He also confessed to planning to leave for Syria in July 2015 to join ISIS ranks, while pretending to go to Saudi Arabia. He was charged on June 28 at the Be'er Sheva District Court with attending an unlawful assembly, conspiring to commit a crime, attempting to commit an unlawful activity as part of an unlawful organization and attempting to unlawfully leave the country.

 

Sharif Abu al-Qian, 23, from the village of Atir, confessed to supporting ISIS and attending ISIS meetings in Hura. He also admitted to planning to leave for Syria in July 2015 to join ISIS ranks, while pretending to go to Saudi Arabia. He was charged on July 1 at the Be'er Sheva District Court with conspiring to commit a crime, attempting to commit an unlawful activity as part of an unlawful organization, participating in an unlawful assembly, and attempting to unlawfully leave the country.

 

Hamza Abu al-Qian, 26, from Hura, is also a teacher. Shin Bet's investigation found that he is an ISIS supporter and attended ISIS meetings in Hura.

 

The Shin Bet stated that "the great majority of the Arab public in Israel opposes the Islamic State to a point of revulsion."

 

Education Minister Naftali Bennett decided to revoke the suspects' teaching license.

 

"We will use the firmest hand against teachers who took advantage of their job in this way and instead of protecting students - hurt them. We have zero tolerance to those who harm our country. We will maintain a clean education system and won't let anyone corrupt our children," Bennett said.

 

Shahar Hay contributed to this report.

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.06.15, 19:26
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