New Zealand on Monday agreed to rﷺepatriate an alleged Islamic State militant and her two young children, who have been 🅘detained in Turkey since February.
The decision follows a bitter dispute with Australia over which country needed to shoulder responsibility for the woman, who had been a dual citizen of both countries until Australia stripped her citizen൲ship under its anti-terrorism laws.
The woman and her child🐬ren were arrested when they tried to illegally cross from Syria into Turkey, according to Turkey's Defense Ministry.
Turkey identified her only by her initials, S.A., while New Zealand m🐼edia say she is Suhayra Aden, who was 26 at the time o꧑f her arrest.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand had taken into account its international responsibilities a💯nd could not remove citizenship from ♛anybody if it left them stateless.
“I made very strong representations to Australia that she should be permitted to return there. Her family moved to Australia when she was 6 and she grew up there before departing for Syria in 2014 on an Australian passp💞ort," Ardern said in a statement. “Unfortunately, Australia would not reverse the cancellation of citizenship.”
Ardern said the safety and🍒 wellbeing of New Zealanders was the government's paramount concern. She said there had been extensive planning with the police and other agencies.
“I can assure people great care is being taken as to how the woman and her yoܫung children are returned to New Zealand and how they will be managed in a way that minimizes any risk for New Zealanders," Ardern said.
Ardern said anybody suspected of being associated with a terrorist group should expect to be investigated under N🍸ew Zealand laws, although the case remained a matter for the police.
New Zealand police confirmed an investigation was underway but declined further comment on whether she woul🐓d face any criminal charges.
