Netherlands to prosecute woman for recruiting son to fight with ISIS
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Netherlands is prosecuting a woman repatriated from Northeast Syria for recruiting son to fight with the Islamic State (ISIS), the NL Times reported on Saturday.
The Public Prosecution Service suspects Ayada K., 47, played a role in recruiting her son, who was under 15 years old, to fight for ISIS.
The woman who was returned to the Netherlands from Syria with U.S. assistance last May is set to appear in court for the first time on Aug. 15.
On May 7, the United States announced repatriating 12 individuals, including minors, of ISIS families from Northeast Syria.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said that six Canadian citizens, four Dutch citizens, and one Finnish citizen were also repatriated in the same operation.
A spokesperson for the Public Prosecution Service said it is a war crime to recruit children under 15 for military service and to use them in combat.
The boy reportedly died in 2017 during fighting near the city of Raqqa in northern Syria, ISIS’ capital at the time.
K. left for Syria in 2014 with her two children, a 13-year-old son and a 14-year-old daughter. The daughter later married a jihadist named Reda N., who was sentenced to prison in 2021.
Upon returning to the Netherlands, K. and her daughter, who both had a child, were arrested, and their children were placed in the care of the Child Protection Board.
The daughter was released with conditions while awaiting trial.