World

Families of 'IS-bound' London schoolgirls beg them to come home

Families say they are "completely distressed", and are "extremely worried" about them

Afp February 21, 2015

PHOTO COURTESY: METROPOLITAN POLICE

LONDON: Families of two British schoolgirls among a trio feared to be travelling to join the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria, have issued emotional appeals on Saturday, urging them to come home.

PHOTO: METROPOLITAN POLICE

Close friends Kadiza Sultana, 17, Shamima Begum, 15, and a third 15-year-old who is not being named at her family's request left their east London homes Tuesday and flew to Istanbul.

PHOTO: METROPOLITAN POLICE

Turkey is a key entry point for those seeking to travel to Syria.
Sultana's family said they were feeling "completely distressed" at her departure in a statement issued by police.

"We all love you dearly and the last four days have been a complete nightmare," they added.

"We miss you terribly, especially Mum, and things have not been the same without you."

PHOTO: METROPOLITAN POLICE

Begum's family added that they were "extremely worried" about her.

"Syria is a dangerous place and we don't want you to go there," they said.

"We understand that you have strong feelings and want to help those you believe are suffering in Syria. You can help from home, you don't have to put yourself in danger."

Police believe the three girls -- all of whom are academic high achievers -- are following the example of a friend who fled to join IS militants in December.

PHOTO: METROPOLITAN POLICE

British media reported that the girls had been interviewed by police about where their friend had gone but were not considered at risk of leaving Britain themselves.

Counter-terrorism experts estimate that around 50 women have travelled from Britain to Syria to join the IS group.

COMMENTS (8)

Stranger | 9 years ago | Reply Stay connected to your kids .

avi | 9 years ago | Reply That's happen when you grow your child as a terrorist

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Javid | 9 years ago | Reply These school girls are daughters of British born muslims. They are two times removed from Pakistani culture. Their Imams are most likely Arabs and are funded by Arabs.

Syed A. Mateen | 9 years ago | Reply I simply say that it is a sheer mistake of parents who do not keep an eye on the activities of their children as what they are up to and believe on the stories told by the children to them. No matter the children belongs to the East or the West, children remain children and all parents in the world are feeling the same pain and going through the agony as if their own girls have left them alone. I urge to each and every parent to remain vigilant about the activities of their children and do not believe on the stories made by the children and double check the statements of children when ever they come up with a new story.

Achaa Banda | 9 years ago | Reply These girls and many other are attracted to the "Gangster" life style of the guys they are going after. They are making a big mistake and they will be nothing more than 3rd or 4th wives of those "Gangsters" they are in love with so much, and will be washing their clothes and cooking and creating babies for them and will not have any life of their own. Hormone awashed teenagers don't use their brains much.

Professor | 9 years ago | Reply An entire generation of young Muslims are struggling to come to terms with the world around them. It is not restricted to any known demographic or level of affluence. The main reason for this confused state of mind is their exposure to religious ideologies too early in their lives. They just do not have the capacity to comprehend what the scriptures mean or how that ideology fits in their life. They take what they think is the easy way out to "Jannat". As long as this practice prevails, more parents will mourn the loss of their precious children.

Salim_Mumbai | 9 years ago | Reply it's a sad state the parents are in. But this is the way they raised their kids. These kids can see the suffering of people in far away Syria, but not the daily struggle of common folks in the urban pockets of England. Besides if the above stated article is correct, they have actually went to join ISIS, who are not exactly a beacon of humanity.

rkfromny | 9 years ago | Reply If their families fought them values of tolerance and co existence and to love their adopted country U.K. .. this could have been averted in the first place.. !

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