PAS offers condolences to family of Kedah-born jihadist slain in Syria

(Malay Mail Online) – PAS offered its condolences today to the family of former member Mohd Lotfi Ariffin who had joined a jihad in Syria and reportedly died there last week.

The Kedah-born was expelled from the Islamist party for his involvement in militant activities earlier this year, but PAS information chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar said the party still respects Mohd Lotfi’s decision to tread the path of jihadism and fight in wartorn Syria.

“We are sad and we offer condolences to his family …  It was the path that he chose. We respect what he chose, the path to fight there. We could not deny him that,” Mahfuz told a news conference at the PAS headquarters here.

“We pray he achieves the reward of blessings … and to be rewarded his ambition for martyrdom,” the Pokok Sena MP added.

Mohd Lotfi is said to have died yesterday after a coma following an ambush against rebel militant groups last week.

The man touted a “martyr” by fellow Malaysian jihadists was sacked in a PAS central meeting on May 11, PAS-owned newspaper Harakah reported.

The party severed all ties with Mohd Lotfi a month later.

Today, Malaysian militants fighting for the creation of an Islamic state in war-torn Syria took to Facebook and Twitter to extol Mohd Lotfi’s efforts for the jihad movement there.

PAS MP for Pasir Mas Nik Abduh Nik Abd Aziz also took to Twitter and Facebook earlier today to share a quote attributed to Lotfi, calling it “a good advice”.

Photos of Lotfi’s burial have since been shared by his supporters on social media and blogs, including one which claimed to be the official page of PAS’ charity corps Jabatan Amal. Some congratulated him on his “successful transaction”.

“Transaction” is an euphemism that refers to a verse in Quran detailing a “contract”, where Muslims are offered a place in Paradise in return for fighting and dying in the cause of Allah.

Lotfi was reportedly critically injured and had fell into coma after his group of fighters were caught in an attack by a fighter jet allegedly from the army of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

In the same attack, another Muslim fighter from Kulim, Kedah known as “Abu Muhajir” whose real name is believed to be Mohamad Fadlan Shah, 21, was also allegedly killed.

Last month, a 52-year-old jihadist fighter, known as Mat Soh or by his nom de guerre “Abu Turab”, allegedly died from shelling in strife-torn Syria while defending the town of Arzeh with several other jihadist fighters.