Family of Negev teachers charged with spreading ISIS dogma reject accusations
Relatives of those arrested say that the security establishment is after them because a family member was killed in Syria fighting for ISIS.
The families of the teachers from the Bedouin village of Hura in the Negev, recently arrested on suspicion of supporting the Islamic State, claimed Monday that there is no basis to the accusations made against them.
In a Ynet interview, the family claimed that the security establishment sought revenge because some of its members infiltrated Syria in recent years and joined IS.
One of them is former medical intern at Barzilai Hospital, Othman Abu Al-Qian, who was killed in fighting last year, and another is still in Syria.
"All the allegations are untrue," said a relative. "We believe that everyone will be released from custody. The state is just making noise at our expense. It has done us an injustice. It thinks we are all supporters of ISIS."
On the other hand, an elementary school teacher where some of the suspects worked said: "I felt that one of them supported ISIS. He was very extreme. But I did not think that he would show clips supporting a terrorist organization. If I were the education minister, I also would not allow him back to work. My heart aches for him as he was drawn to a bad place. Instead of keeping his livelihood, he ruined his life."
On Monday, the Shin Bet 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. Some had reportedly also planned to travel abroad to join ISIS' ranks in the fighting in Syria.
Those arrested were: Bashir Abu al-Qian, 26, a teacher at a primary school in Hura; Akram Abu al-Qian, 26, a resident of Hura and a teacher at a primary school in Rahat; Mohammed Abu al-Qian, 27, a teacher at a high school in Hura, where he also resides; Issa Abu al-Qian, 27, a resident of Hura; Sharif Abu al-Qian, 23, from the village of Atir; and Hamza Abu al-Qian, 26, from Hura, also a teacher.
A resident of Hura, whose son is a student at the school at which one of the suspects worked, told Ynet: "I find it hard to understand how such a thing could happen in our school. We will not allow teachers who support ISIS to influence our students and brainwash them. These are dangerous and insolent people who are endangering our childrens' and all the village residents' futures. I hope the court will punish them with the most severe punishment possible."
A mother of another student from Hura added: "I couldn't digest the information when I first learned of what happened. I started questioning my son right away. I do not know if he heard dangerous things from them. I feel he wants to say something but he is afraid. A school is a place of education and not an ISIS training center. If there are teachers who support ISIS, I am afraid to send my children there."
Ibrahim al-Naomi, a registered nurse, said: "We have seen multiple cases of young Europeans who have left their bountiful countries in order to join the ranks of a group of head-choppers, who kill without motive, in the name of Islam. Apparently the group has outstanding capabilities to brainwash people all over the world, even those who are highly educated. This incident does not represent us Bedouins as citizens or as a community. We see this as a crossing of all red lines."
