A woman who was suspected and accused of being a member of the terrorist group called Islamic State (IS) could be extradited from Turkey to New Zealand, officials said.
Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern has openly said that the decision to allow the 26-year-old woman and her two children to return in the country was not “taken lightly”.
New Zealand Prime Minister Speaks
The woman under question grew up in New Zealand and Australia and had a nationality of both countries until Australia cancelled her citizenship last year.
That led to Ms Ardern accusing Canberra of “abdicating its responsibilities”.
Ms Arden added that greater care would be given to reducing the risk to New Zealanders.
The woman was caught entering Turkey from Syria with her children. She travelled to Syria in 2014 with an Australian passport.
‘Enemy Of Our Country’
Canberra deprived the woman of her Australian nationality last year. The Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison even called her “the enemy of our country”.
Earlier this year, Ms Ardern spoke against the decision by Canberra saying the woman should return to Australia – where she spent most of her childhood and adulthood.
Why Is New Zealand Accepting Her?
But on Monday Ardern said New Zealand had no choice but to take back the woman, as it was the only place she could legally reside.
“They are not Turkey’s responsibility, and with Australia refusing to accept the family, that makes them ours,” Ms Ardern said.
It is up to the police to decide whether the woman will face a criminal investigation when she arrives here, she added.
This is not the first time that governments have failed to make informed decisions about citizens being appointed as terrorists.
The UK confiscated the citizenship of Shamima Begum, a British girl who joined IS in 2015.
