Nepal uncovers trafficking of women to Islamic State

A police investigation in Nepal has revealed that Nepalese women seduced by promise of money have been sold as brides to terrorists in Syria or even used as human shield by the Islamic State militias.  These were some of the findings of the police investigation into the trafficking of women and girls to African and Middle East Countries.  The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal on April 7 arrested a group of traffickers who sold innocent victims for the price of $7,000 each. Following a complaint from a woman who had been trafficked to Syria and forced to work in the sex trade, the officers discovered a criminal organization that cheated girls with promises of work as dancers in bars and restaurants.  In fact, on arriving in countries such as Syria, Tanzania and Kenya, the victims were sold to terrorists, who used them as human shields.  Hemanta Malla Thakuri, head of CIB and deputy inspector general of police of Nepal, told AsiaNews that the investigations began after the International Organization for Migration managed to rescue victims in Kenya, Syria and other countries of the Middle East.  Thakuri also said that "criminals targeted women and girls belonging to the poorer classes of society." The traffickers chose the Nepalese women because they are "cheaper and submit more easily."  Police seized 24 suspects passports of women, their photographs and about $900,000 in cash. The authorities suspect that the organization has been trafficking persons for years to Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malaysia, Oman, Bahrain, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. (Source: AsiaNews)