Mother arrested in Denmark after evacuation from Syrian camp with son

By Ebad Ahmed

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AA) – Danish authorities arrested a Somali woman, formerly a Danish citizen, at Copenhagen Airport following her evacuation from Syria’s al-Roj camp with her eight-year-old son, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Friday.

The mother, who left Denmark in 2014 at 16 to join Daesh, faces multiple terrorism-related charges under Denmark’s penal code. Her evacuation from the Syrian camp was facilitated by local authorities with US support, officials said. Her son, who holds Danish citizenship, is currently in municipal custody, though the specific municipality was not disclosed.

East Jutland Police Deputy Inspector Flemming Norgaard told state broadcaster DR, “The arrest took place without drama, and our officers have arrested and charged the woman, after which she was driven to Aarhus.”

Danish authorities had previously offered to evacuate the boy alone, but a Supreme Court ruling in August determined that separating the mother and child would violate human rights.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the woman had “turned her back on Denmark” by joining Daesh.

The mother, who also grew up in the UK, lost her Danish citizenship after joining the group and became a Somali national. She was widowed after her ISIS fighter husband died while she was pregnant.