Maldives group stopped from going to Syria

Maldives police Wednesday night arrested a group who were attempting to go and fight in Syria.

The group were arrested at Velana International Airport.

One of those arrested from the group had been banned from travelling by a court order after an earlier attempt to join the Syrian war. He had tried to leave again after the ban was lifted, local media reported.

A police spokesman was unavailable for comment.

A fighter in Syria had returned to the Maldives and continued to live without arrest, Mihaaru reported in April. He had travelled abroad with his wife and child and come back a year later.

In January, Defence Minister Mohamed Shareef put the total number of Maldivians who travelled to Syria at 61. He previously insisted that the number was 49.

He said 68 people, including nine children, were stopped from going there.

The anti-terrorism law sets a jail term of up to 20 years for leaving the Maldives to join a foreign war.