Albanians Fighting Abroad Face 10 Years in Jail; Due to Many Albanian Muslims Fighting in Syria

A new amendment to the Albanian criminal code raises jail terms to 10 years for Albanians who join conflicts abroad for political and ideological reasons, the Balkan Insight website reports today (February 26, 2014).

The amendment -- initiated by the ministry of justice -- follows reports that a growing number of Albanian citizens have joined radical Islamist groups fighting in the Syrian civil war.

"It's a step in the right direction," Arjan Dyrmishi, a security expert with the Albanian Institute of Democracy and Mediation said.

Concerns are growing that Muslims from the Balkans are being drawn into the bloody sectarian conflicts raging in Syria, Iraq and, increasingly, Lebanon.