MANILA: Philippine officials say a militant leader’s widow who has been arrested for allegedly calling on fighters to join a pro-Islamic State group siege in the south also faces allegations that she recruited Indian men to fight in Syria and Iraq.
Joshua Raymundo of the National Bureau of Investigation said today that India has asked the Philippines to help investigate Karen Aizha Hamidon, who allegedly worked to encourage several Indian militants last year to join the Islamic State group in the Middle East. Hamidon denied the allegation.
Raymundo says arrested Indian militants identified Hamidon as their recruiter.
Filipino authorities arrested Hamidon, the 32-year old widow of an IS-linked militant commander, last month for allegedly calling on Muslims to join a siege in Marawi city that was crushed by troops.-AP
