A former Haia member who had joined the Islamic State (IS) was killed recently in Syria, confirmed a statement issued by the group. He had been fighting in both Syria and Iraq for the past two years.

Faisal Al-Ruwaili, 25, died during a battle with the “Army of Islam” in Eastern Ghouta in Syria.

Al-Ruwaili was one of the first Saudis to join IS ranks and has fought in many battles in the country, mainly in Kalamoon.

Faisal’s father, Ali Al-Rwaili, told local media that his son led an ordinary life among family members and had not shown any signs of extremism.

“Faisal used to be an employee at the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) in Al-Jouf before quitting his job to join IS,” he said.

Faisal appeared in a video clip on YouTube singing and praising Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, the slain Al-Qaeda militant, and Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, who recently declared himself group “caliph” (ruler).

Faris Al-Rwaili, Faisal’s brother, said his brother was a former mathematics student in Al-Jouf University who later dropped out. He said the family only came to know that Faisal had joined IS ranks after he had arrived in Syria, from where he called them.