Ex-Brit soldier, 25, who fought ISIS is jailed in Turkey

A former British soldier has been jailed in Turkey for fighting for Kurdish forces against ISIS.

Joe Robinson is believed to be on bail pending an appeal against his sentence of seven years and six months for terrorism.

The 25-year-old was arrested with his fiancee last year while on holiday in Turkey.

Afghanistan veteran Robinson claims he spent a month as a medic with the Kurdish militia in 2015.

He has previously fought ISIS in Iraq for government-backed peshmerga forces, but denies acting in a combat role alongside the People’s Protection Units of Syrian Kurdistan.



Turkey is hostile to the group because of links with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party fighting for Kurdish autonomy in the country.

Robinson, of Accrington, Lancs, toured Afghanistan with the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment in 2012 before travelling to Syria.

His family have appealed to Theresa May to help secure his release.


His mother Sharon Chimejczuk said yesterday her son’s fiancee, Leeds University law student Mira Rojkan, had been given a suspended sentence for “terrorism propaganda”.

She added: “There was a trial, but Joe wasn’t at it.”

Ms Rojkan said: “The court sentenced me for sharing Facebook posts with the Kurdish flag and links to Kurdish songs on YouTube.

"The situation is just so sad and ridiculous.”

The Foreign Office said: “We stand ready to provide consular assistance to a British national in Turkey.”

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