Azerbaijan’s Ministry of National Security said it arrested 26 people who fought in Syria and Iraq as members of the Islamic State terrorist group, also known as ISIS.

All of the arrested suspects are Azerbaijani nationals, who visited Syria and Iraq last year and stayed there for several months.

One of the suspects sent his 15-year-old son, Elvin Dursunaliyev, to Syria, where he joined military operations, the ministry said.

The fighters can face up to life in prison if convicted. 

Dozens of Azerbaijani nationals, mostly members of the Salafi community, have been killed in the Syrian civil war since 2011.

Azerbaijan is a mostly Shiite Muslim nation of 9.5 million on Iran’s northern border.

The government of President Ilham Aliyev, who’s staunchly secular, is wary of radical Islam. 

Bakudaily.Az