Icelandic family concerned over alleged ISIS connection

The family of an Icelandic citizen who was worked abroad in various conflict areas such as Syria, is concerned that his work is being connected to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The unnamed citizen endangers himself by informing the world of atrocities such as those committed by ISIS. His goal is therefore the opposite of that which an Icelandic cameraman has recently been allegedly involved with.

In an article on The New York Review of Books the journalist Sarah Birke reports on the workings of ISIS by interviewing a man named Abu Hamza who defected from ISIS. He claims that an Icelander was involved in the recording of a video footage that was distributed worldwide to promote ISIS's message and to step up their recruitment efforts.

A family member of the unnamed Icelandic citizen spoke to us and informed us that the man had been positioned in Syria for 10 days about 18 months ago. He had not been there to work for ISIS, but covering the actions of doctors in the field, to show the negative aspects of the civil war. The family member added that while it's possible that another Icelander may be involved, it's unlikely as the unnamed citizen would know if another Icelander was on the front lines of the most dangerous battlefields in the world.

Possible error

The family member says that two conclusions can be drawn from Birke's article. One is that someone is trying to ruin the career and reputation of an Icelandic cameraman, or the whole thing is simply a mistake and that the cameraman is from another country.

The alleged ISIS connection to Iceland has been a shock to the family, whom claim that the worst thing being that the unnamed citizen is unable to defend himself. Under no circumstances do they want his name to be revealed to the public, nor will they reveal where in the world he is currently located, as that might endanger him.

The family has so far not been contacted by Icelandic authorities in regards to this matter.