Crime & Justice

New Zealand to repatriate alleged Islamic State-linked citizen from Turkey

Sydney, Australia, July 26 (EFE).- The New Zealand government Monday said it had agreed to repatriate an alleged Islamic State-linked citizen and her two children from Turkey.

Turkish authorities detained the woman, 26, and her two children near the border with Syria in February.

They were in the Syrian territory controlled by the Islamic State terror group.

The woman with dual Australian and New Zealand citizenship and her children will travel to New Zealand in response to Turkey’s request.

Australia has already revoked her citizenship.

“New Zealand has not taken this step lightly. We have taken into account our international responsibilities as well as the details of this particular case, including the fact that children are involved,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a statement.

Ardern’s government had urged Australia to allow the woman, accused of having links with the Islamic State, to return.

The woman lived in Australia since she was six. She left for Syria in 2014 but from there.

“New Zealand is not able to remove citizenship from a person and leave them stateless, and as New Zealand citizens this country is the only place where they can currently legally reside,” Ardern added.

The prime minister said the government would manage the woman’s return and her children with “great care.”

The authorities will ensure that her presence does not put New Zealanders at risk.

The Australian government refused to repatriate women with Islamic State affiliations and their children under a law that allows the government to revoke the citizenship of dual nationals if they engage in terrorism-related activities. EFE

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