German author and former politician Jürgen Todenhöfer is said to have done the impossible – travel to Islamic State territory, meet jihadists and return safely.
On Tuesday, Todenhöfer said on his Facebook page in German that he was the "first western journalist in the world who could visit the Islamic State."
Todenhöfer said he had negotiated with the Caliphate leadership over Skype for months before his visit, and stated that he made the journey because he had covered 'all sides' over the last 50 years.
The German author, who also posted a photo of him talking to ISIS fighters armed with guns, has warned that the Islamic State is "more powerful and dangerous" than what the West believes.
He has said that he will disclose more details of his visit gradually. His Facebook post has already been shared by more than 25,000 people.
Several pro-ISIS Twitterati tweeted about the German's visit to the Islamic State.
According to one pro-Caliphate account 'Milk Shami', Todenhöfer was permitted entry to Islamic State because of his criticism of the US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"For those who wonder why Jürgen Todenhöfer got permission to enter IS territory, is because he's one of the most prominent German critics of the US-led wars against Afghanistan and against Iraq, and he's not a journalist, he's executive, author and former politician, he have met the Iraqi resistance back in the days, and there is a possibility some of them are in IS," @muftimalik said in a series of tweets.
German Jürgen Todenhöfers leaves IS area after getting permission with his team by IS for journalistic work pic.twitter.com/kWJPgU1i6Z
— Milk Shami (@muftimilk) December 16, 2014
This is said to be the photo of the pass that authorized Todenhöfer to visit the Islamic State.
The pass that guaranteed German journalist's security while he was #IS controlled territory & pic of him in situ. pic.twitter.com/XdPUTUmWtu — Charlie Winter (@charliewinter) December 16, 2014
