WELLINGTON – New Zealand today announced that it will accept a woman linked to the Islamic State and her two children, after Australia cancelled the former dual national’s citizenship.
The New Zealand-born woman – widely identified as Suhayra Aden – moved to Australia at age 6 and was a dual national until Canberra stripped her of citizenship last year.
At the time, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said “terrorists who fought with terrorism organisations” forfeit the privilege of citizenship.
Aden moved from Australia to Syria in 2014 and lived under IS.
The 26-year-old told news organisation ABC at a Syrian refugee camp in 2019 that she had been married to two Swedish IS fighters.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said cancelling the woman’s citizenship would leave them stateless.
“They are not Turkey’s responsibility, and with Australia refusing to accept the family, that makes them ours,” she said in a statement today.
Ardern, who previously hit out at Canberra for “abdicating responsibility” in the case, said the woman and her children will now be returned to New Zealand at Turkey’s equest.
While not revealing details about the arrangements, she said “great care” is being taken to minimise any risk to New Zealanders.
“Planning by agencies has been twofold – to ensure all appropriate steps are in place to address potential security concerns, and to have the right services in place to support reintegration, with a particular focus on the well-being of the children.”
Aden and her kids have been held in Turkey since crossing the border from Syria in February.
After detaining the family, the Turkish Defence Ministry identified her as a “Daesh terrorist” and said they were caught trying to enter illegally. – AFP, July 26, 2021
