17 Feb 2021

IS suspect needs deradicalisation - Islamic Women's Council

From Checkpoint, 5:49 pm on 17 February 2021

A New Zealand woman linked to a terrorist group in Syria should be put through a deradicalisation programme and rehabilitated according the Islamic Women's council.

But the question is whether it should Australia or New Zealand who takes responsibility for her.

Twenty-five-year-old Suhayra Aden, who has been linked to the Islamic State terrorist group, is in custody with her two children after trying to cross the border from Syria.

She was born in New Zealand but moved to Australia when she was was six and held dual citizenship, until Australia revoked hers.

Anjum Rahman from the Islamic Women's Council NZ talks to Lisa Owen.

"Given that she was born here, and thinking about the welfare of those two children, we do need to step up," Islamic Women's Council spokesperson Anjum Rahman said. 

"When we think about criminal justice... we always hold the hope that people can be rehabilitated and put back into the community. And given that she was just 19 when she was over there, we hope that if she does come back here that she is put through a deradicalisation programme."