‘Terrorist bride’ who married two ISIS fighters in Syria after leaving Australia is allowed into NZ

A woman who married two ISIS fighters in war-torn Syria after fleeing Australia in 2014 is being allowed to return to New Zealand with her children.

Suhayra Aden, 26, was a dual Australian-NZ citizen before the Morrison government stripped the ‘terrorist bride’ of her citizenship rights in 2020, calling her an ‘enemy of our country’. 

After spending time in the notorious Al-Hawl refugee camp, the young mother later tried to make her way across the northern border to Turkey but was arrested with her children, aged two and five, in February and held in immigration detention.

Turkey lobbied the NZ government to repatriate Ms Aden and her children, and on Monday Kiwi leader Jacinda Ardern agreed to fly her back before taking a swipe at her trans-Tasman counterpart.

ISIS ‘terrorist’ bride Suhayra Aden, 26 (pictured during her arrest in Turkey), has been granted permission to return New Zealand

‘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,’ Ms Ardern said.

‘I made very strong representations to Australia that she should be permitted to return there.

‘Her family moved to Australia when she was six and she grew up there before departing for Syria in 2014, on an Australian passport. Unfortunately, Australia would not reverse the cancellation of citizenship. 

‘They are not Turkey’s responsibility, and with Australia refusing to accept the family, that makes them ours.’ 

Turkey lobbied the NZ government to repatriate Ms Aden and her children, and on Monday Kiwi leader Jacinda Ardern (pictured) has agreed to fly her back before

Turkey lobbied the NZ government to repatriate Ms Aden and her children, and on Monday Kiwi leader Jacinda Ardern (pictured) has agreed to fly her back before

The Morrison government stripped Ms Aden of her citizenship rights in 2020, calling her an 'enemy of our country'

The Morrison government stripped Ms Aden of her citizenship rights in 2020, calling her an ‘enemy of our country’

Ms Aden’s overseas jaunt to Syria was riddled with tragedy and loss as the country’s war devolved into one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in modern history.

During her time there, the mother-of-three lost one of her children to pneumonia and two Swedish-born, ISIS fighter husbands to the violent conflict which ravaged the nation.

The Islamic State terror group were rapidly building a formidable army in Syria and Iraq in 2014, and used targeted digital media propaganda to recruit fighters and allies from across the globe, including the west.

In their quest to establish Sharia Law in an Islamic Caliphate across the Levant, it is estimated that more than 210,000 civilians were brutally killed. 

Despite the criticism from the NZ Prime Minister, Scott Morrison has made no apologies for cancelling the terror suspect’s passport.

‘Australia’s interest here is that we do not want to see a terrorist who fought with terrorist organisations enjoying privileges of citizenship, which I think they forfeit the second they gauge as an enemy of our country,’ Mr Morrison said. 

In their quest to establish Sharia Law in an Islamic Caliphate across the Levant, it is estimated that more than 210,000 civilians were brutally killed. Pictured: What is left of the Syrian city of Raqa in 2017

In their quest to establish Sharia Law in an Islamic Caliphate across the Levant, it is estimated that more than 210,000 civilians were brutally killed. Pictured: What is left of the Syrian city of Raqa in 2017

After spending time in the notorious Al-Hawl refugee camp (pictured), Aden later tried to make her way across the norther border to Turkey but was arrested with her children, aged two and five, in February and held in immigration detention

After spending time in the notorious Al-Hawl refugee camp (pictured), Aden later tried to make her way across the norther border to Turkey but was arrested with her children, aged two and five, in February and held in immigration detention

Ms Ardern said NZ were left with no choice but to accept the woman because rejecting the claim would have left her and her children stateless – an illegal act under the conventions of international law.  

She told NZ citizens that Aden will be placed under control orders to make sure there is no risk to the community.  

‘I can assure people great care is being taken as to how the woman and her young children are returned to New Zealand and how they will be managed in a way that minimises any risk for New Zealanders,’ Ms Ardern said.

‘Planning by agencies has been two-fold – 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 particular focus on the wellbeing of the children.’

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