Founding Father Of Western Jihad ‘Bitterly Regrets’ Recruiting Teens For ISIS

The self-proclaimed founding father of jihad (holy war,) Abu Muntasir, 55, from Suffolk in the U.K., revealed recently that he “bitterly regrets” spending years recruiting Muslim teenagers to join the ranks of ISIS.

For many years, Muntasir spread his hate and radical Islamist beliefs, radicalizing literally thousands of moderate young Muslims who found themselves supporting the dark-age mentality of extremist Islam due to Muntasir’s influence.

Having fought himself for the cause of jihad in Afghanistan, Kashmir, and Burma, Muntasir was responsible for turning countless otherwise-moderate Muslim teens into fighting machines, full of hatred for the West and its value system, despite the fact that the majority of these young people were born and raised in Britain, Europe, and America.

Muntasir claims he is now a reformed character, and as such considers himself to be a “moderate imam” who now dissuades youngsters from joining ISIS.

As Muntasir explained during a British documentary about him, entitled Jihad: A British Story, as a figure tormented by his violent past.

“If I’ve done those things which have terribly upset people or hurt people I should be forgiven, I should forgive others as well. I cannot hate, hate is not what Muhammad taught. I have been forgiven, I will forgive, that’s the least I can do. You have the right to punish me if you think that’s fair I will take all that.”

In speaking about his part in recruiting young Muslims to fight in Syria and elsewhere around the world, Muntasir explained, “I inspired and recruited, I raised funds and bought weapons, not just a one-off but for 15 to 20 years. Why I have never been arrested I don’t know.”

A former groupie of Muntasir, Alyaas Karmani, who is also a reformed character and works to promote peace between Muslims and those of other faiths, told reporters in the U.K. about Muntasir, “He was a charismatic father figure. It was exciting and there was an energy. I was an activist, never an extremist. For me I always had an inner voice telling me that a lot of this is not right.”

It is hoped by many in the British establishment that Abu Muntasir will now use his pulpit to attempt to reverse the damage he has done to countless young Muslims, both in the U.K. and further afield.

[Image credit: YouTube]