The Kurdistan Region Security Agency (Asayish) has arrested three alleged ISIS members in operations carried out in Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk, accusing them of using social media to spread extremist ideology and recruit young people into the group.

Arrests Carried Out in Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk

Acting on intelligence information, the General Directorate of Asayish Operations arrested the three suspects during operations conducted between April and June in Sulaymaniyah and Kirkuk. According to Asayish, the arrests were carried out under judicial warrants following extensive field surveillance.

Social Media Used to Spread ISIS Propaganda

According to an Asayish statement, the suspects operated accounts and pages on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Telegram, and YouTube to distribute ISIS videos, images, and written content aimed at promoting the group's extremist ideology.

Accused of Recruiting Young People

Asayish said the detainees admitted during questioning that they used social media platforms to encourage young people and teenagers to adopt extremist ideas. According to the agency, their objective was to persuade them to join ISIS and travel to areas under the group's control.

Investigation Continues

According to Asayish, the three suspects had previously attempted to flee but were unsuccessful because of security measures and road closures. They are currently being held under Article 2 of the Anti-Terrorism Law, and investigations into the case are ongoing.