Vienna 'jihad' teenager wants to come home
One of two Viennese teenagers who are thought to be fighting with the militant extremist movement Islamic State (Isis) near Raqqa in Syria wants to return to Austria, according to a report in the Österreich newspaper.
The two girls, 16-year-old Samra and 15-year-old Sabina, are both of Bosnian origin and left Vienna in April, telling their parents in a letter that they wanted to “fight for Islam”.
Samra, who is thought to have married a Chechen, wants to come home according to an inside source, as she has seen too much of the horrors of war.
Both Samra and Sabina are reported to be in an area where they will have experienced public floggings, beheadings and frequent air attacks.
Both girls, but especially Samra, are said to be in contact with their families. Sabina is reportedly not ready to return to Austria.
Last month Samra was rumoured to have been killed in Syria, but she then got in touch with friends via the social media tool WhatsApp.
Experts warn that an escape from Isis is “virtually impossible”, although a Syrian woman did recently manage to flee from Isis in Turkey.
The Austrian government is working hard to tackle an increasing problem with its residents traveling to conflict zones to participate in holy war, or 'jihad.'
It has announced a series of measures to restrict the banned Isis organization, as well as proposals to withdraw citizenship or asylum status from returned fighters.
The Interior Ministry estimates 142 Austrians, including 12 women, have so far joined the ranks of jihadists in Syria.
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The two girls, 16-year-old Samra and 15-year-old Sabina, are both of Bosnian origin and left Vienna in April, telling their parents in a letter that they wanted to “fight for Islam”.
Samra, who is thought to have married a Chechen, wants to come home according to an inside source, as she has seen too much of the horrors of war.
Both Samra and Sabina are reported to be in an area where they will have experienced public floggings, beheadings and frequent air attacks.
Both girls, but especially Samra, are said to be in contact with their families. Sabina is reportedly not ready to return to Austria.
Last month Samra was rumoured to have been killed in Syria, but she then got in touch with friends via the social media tool WhatsApp.
Experts warn that an escape from Isis is “virtually impossible”, although a Syrian woman did recently manage to flee from Isis in Turkey.
The Austrian government is working hard to tackle an increasing problem with its residents traveling to conflict zones to participate in holy war, or 'jihad.'
It has announced a series of measures to restrict the banned Isis organization, as well as proposals to withdraw citizenship or asylum status from returned fighters.
The Interior Ministry estimates 142 Austrians, including 12 women, have so far joined the ranks of jihadists in Syria.
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