‘Isis bride’ returns to New Zealand after Australia strips her of citizenship

Suhayra Aden, 26, was born in New Zealand but permanently moved to Australia when she was six

She became the centre of a diplomatic row earlier this year after Canberra revoked her passport amid talks with Wellington over cooperating on her repatriation

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NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Photo: NZME/Bloomberg

Published: 3:30pm, 21 Aug 2021Updated: 4:20pm, 21 Aug 2021

An Islamic State-linked woman arrived in New Zealand with her children on Saturday, local media reported, in a repatriation that was forced upon the country after Australia stripped her of her citizenship.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced last month that Suhayra Aden, 26, and her two children would return to New Zealand from Turkey, where they were held by authorities after crossing the border from Syria.

Suhayra, who previously had dual Australian and New Zealand passports, became the centre of a diplomatic row earlier this year after Canberra without warning revoked her citizenship amid talks between the two nations on cooperating over her repatriation.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Photo: AAP

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the decision was made as she was considered “an enemy of our country”.

In unusually blunt remarks, Ardern in February slammed Australia for shirking its responsibility.

“It is wrong that New Zealand should shoulder the responsibility for a situation involving a woman who has not lived in New Zealand since she was six,” she said.

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