Suhayra Aden

Suhayra Aden
Born1995
Auckland, New Zealand
CitizenshipNew Zealand citizen by birth (formerly also held dual citizenship with Australia)
Known forTravelling to Syria to join ISIL as a Jihadi bride
Spouse2 (both deceased)
Children3 (1 deceased)

Suhayra Aden (born 1995) is a New Zealand woman who travelled to Syria in 2014. It is alleged that while in Syria she joined the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) where she married two Swedish fighters and had three children. In February 2021, she was detained by Turkish authorities while trying to enter the country with her two surviving children.[1][2][3] Turkey subsequently dropped charges against Aden and began proceedings to deport her.[4][5]

Formerly a dual citizen, Aden was stripped of her Australian citizenship in 2020 as a result of allegedly engaging in terrorism. The move was announced and defended by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison; it was met with scepticism internationally and uproar in New Zealand. Australia has a history of deporting non-citizens who have committed crimes or breached their "character test," regardless of whether they have only ever committed crimes in Australia, or if they spent virtually their whole lives in Australia.[6] New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern accused Morrison's government of trying to abandon Aden (who had lived in Australia since the age of 6 before allegedly joining ISIL) so New Zealand would have to deal with her and the associated expenses instead. Following a phone conversation, the two leaders agreed to work together in the "spirit of the Australian-New Zealand relationship" to address what Ardern called "quite a complex legal situation."[7]

On 26 July 2021, Ardern announced that Cabinet had agreed to repatriate Aden and her two children on the basis of their status as New Zealand citizens. Aden and her two children will be the first New Zealanders to be repatriated from Syria allegedly associated with ISIL.[8] In mid-August 2021, Aden and her two children landed in New Zealand.[9]

  1. ^ Welch, Dylan; Dredge, Suzanne; Dziedzic, Stephen (16 February 2021). "New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern criticises Australia for stripping dual national terror suspect's citizenship". ABC News. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  2. ^ Whyte, Anna (16 February 2021). "Jacinda Ardern delivers extraordinary broadside at Australia over woman detained in Turkey – 'Abdicated its responsibilities'". 1 News. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Ardern condemns Australia for revoking ISIL suspect's citizenship". Al Jazeera. 16 February 2021. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Alleged 'Kiwi' Isis terrorist: Suhayra Aden set to be deported from Turkey". The New Zealand Herald. 20 February 2021. Archived from the original on 20 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  5. ^ Guildford, Jonathan (21 February 2021). "Law expert praises New Zealand Government's handling of woman set to be deported from Turkey". Stuff. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Deportation Across the Tasman Sea - AIIA". Australian Institute of International Affairs. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Jacinda Ardern, Scott Morrison agree to work in 'spirit of our relationship' over alleged Isis terrorist". Stuff. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  8. ^ Manch, Thomas (27 July 2021). "Islamic State supporter Suhayra Aden faces a terrorism investigation, but charges are unlikely". Stuff. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  9. ^ "'Isis bride' Suhayra Aden arrives in New Zealand; PM Jacinda Ardern says public safety 'an absolute priority'". The New Zealand Herald. 21 August 2021. Archived from the original on 21 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.