China may have around 100 Citizens Fighting for ISIS

For long, there has been speculations that Chinese nationals from the country's conflict-ridden Xinjiang region may have joined with the Islamic State militants.

China's Special Envoy to Middle East, Wu Sike has confirmed now that Chinese Muslim extremists reportedly have joined ISIS.

"Several hot spot issues in the Middle East have provided living space for terrorist groups, in particular the crisis in Syria has turned this country into a training ground for extremists from many countries," Sike told Reuters.

"These extremists come from Islamic countries, Europe, North America and China. After being immersed in extremist ideas, when they return home they will pose a severe challenge and security risk to those countries," he added.

China's Xinjiang region, which is home to over a million Muslims, for long has been fighing for independence from the country. The region earlier in the month was in news, after the Chinese officials banned Muslims in the Xinjiang region from observing Ramadan, which is considered a holy month of fasting and prayer. 

Many Chinese government agencies, including schools had posted the ban notices on their websites, saying it wants to prevent institutions from being used to promote religion, BBC had reported.

Chinese supression of the Muslims in the region, also is a factor contributing to the conflict in the region. For long there has been fears that the Uighurs from the region could take up arms to join the jihadist call, especially after ISIS' self-proclaimed Caliph al-Baghdadi in his speech had highlighted on the atrocities against Muslims in China.

The Chinese Envoy stated that he understood from international media reports that at least 100 Uighur would have joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

"Mostly they are East Turkestan elements," Wu said. The Chinese diplomat also said he has taken up with the issue even with the Turkish government during a trip to the country, as Turkey is home to a large number of exiled Uighurs.

As per the estimates by the US Intelligence agencies, at least over 5,000 foreign nationals, especially from Europe have joined with the Islamic State militants.

The ISIS, which has announced its Caliphate in Syria and Iraq has been hunting new recruits on social media platforms.

Twitter has been one of its most preffered for reaching out to the youths in Europe and other countries. CNN reports that hundreds of youths from UK and France have joined Islamic state.

Similarly, in a video featuring a Canadian national went viral last month.

The recruitment video in which the Andre Poulin, the Canadian is seen in the end running through a field in Syria during a siege of an airport, and then dying in the battle. The video then shows his corpse and he is hailed as a martyr, reported New York Times.