Brothers Mohommod Nawaz, 31, and Hamza Nawaz, 24, have become the first Britons to be jailed for joining a terror training camp in Syria in what is said to be a 'clear message' for those who return from being part of terror groups.
Britain is already facing a problem of large number of youth leaving to join terror groups, especially the Islamic State.
The brothers, residents of Stratford, east London, were found guilty of conspiracy to attend a terrorist training camp, and while the younger one has been sentenced to three years in jail, the older one will spend four-and-a-half years behind bars, The Guardian reported.
The brothers had left their home in August pretending to go out to eat, and instead drove to Lyon in France, from where they flew to Turkey and finally joined anti-Assad rebel fighters across the border in Syria.
On their return in September, border officers found them carrying ammunition, while their mobile phones contained pictures and videos of their time at the terror training camp.
While pronouncing them guilty, Judge Christopher Moss QC said, "It is clear from the evidence from mobile phones that you both had been in a camp in Syria used for terrorist training. The evidence shows you were there for jihad, or holy war, and wanted to join an extremist group," BBC reported.
Hamza Nawaz is seen in this undated police custody image made available by the Metropolitan Police in London on November 26, 2014.Reuters 
Mohommod Hassin Nawaz is seen in this undated police custody image made available by the Metropolitan Police in London on November 26, 2014.Reuters
For British authorities, the rising appeal of jihad to youths in the country has been a burdening concern.
Earlier this month, Labour MP Khalid Mahmood had said that 2,000 Britons had travelled to Iraq and Syria to join the Islamic State, upending the official figures of 500 men.
Hailing the sentencing of the two brothers, Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire said it sent a "clear message that people who commit, plan and support acts of terror abroad will face justice when they come back to the UK".
Several other countries are grappling with the issue of how to effectively deal with youths who return from terror camps in the Middle East.
