Alabama woman who joined Islamic State seeks return to US

[Yankee-stani]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama woman who left home to join the Islamic State after becoming radicalized online realized she was wrong and now wants to return to the United States, a lawyer for her family said Tuesday.

Hoda Muthana, 24, regrets ever aligning herself with the terrorist organization and is putting herself at risk by speaking out against it from a refugee camp where she has lived since fleeing the group a few weeks ago, said attorney Hassan Shibly.

Muthana, who dodged sniper fire and roadside bombs to escape, is ready to pay the penalty for her actions but wants freedom and safety for the 18-month-old son she had with one of two IS fighters she wed, he said. Both men were killed in combat.

In a handwritten letter released by Shibly, Muthana wrote that she made "a big mistake" by rejecting her family and friends in the United States to join the Islamic State.

"During my years in Syria I would see and experience a way of life and the terrible effects of war which changed me," she wrote.

After fleeing her home in suburban Birmingham in late 2014 and resurfacing in Syria, Muthana used social media to advocate violence against the United States. In the letter, Muthana wrote that she didn't understand the importance of freedoms provided by the United States at the time.

"To say that I regret my past words, any pain that I caused my family and any concerns I would cause my country would be hard for me to really express properly," said the letter.

Shibly said Muthana was brainwashed online before she left Alabama and now could have valuable intelligence for U.S. forces, but he said the FBI didn't seem interested in retrieving her from the refugee camp where she is living with her son.

A Justice Department spokesman referred questions to the State Department, which did not immediately return an email seeking comment.

Muthana's father would welcome the woman back, Shibly said, but she is not on speaking terms with her mother.

Ashfaq Taufique, who knows Muthana's family and is president of the Birmingham Islamic Society, said the woman could be a valuable resource for teaching young people about the dangers of online radicalization were she allowed to return to the United States.

"Her coming back could be a very positive thing for our community and our country," Taufique said.

 

[nahtanbob]

yeah right ... i say rot in hell

 

[Quibbler]

yeah right ... i say rot in hell

She could be shinning example to deter more like her. Just sayin.

 

[Tshering22]

So now suddenly the world of kuffars looks good for this terrorist eh? Wonder why is that. Honestly, WTF was she actually expecting there? Milk and honey flowing for free? Golden palaces and alpine scenery everywhere? Full freedom and rights for everyone with safety everywhere?

She should never be allowed to return to US.

In fact, no country from where these ISIS asshats went, should accept them back. Let these terrorists die their miserable deaths from US drones and Russian fighter bombers.

TBH, it would be awesome to see Russia, China, India, Iran and European forces join hands and crush these fckers once and for all.

They are a threat to all these countries and a threat to Asia as such.

No mercy.

 

[VCheng]

She should never be allowed to return to US.

As a US citizen she cannot be denied entry into the country. However, she should be prepared for potential charges of providing support to terrorists and to have her day in court.

 

[nahtanbob]

As a US citizen she cannot be denied entry into the country. However, she should be prepared for potential charges of providing support to terrorists and to have her day in court.

this is of course if she can get out of the rathole whereever she is staying
i will assume US consular officials will be less than helpful

of course she must hope she is not on video renouncing her US citizenship

 

[VCheng]

this is of course if she can get out of the rathole whereever she is staying
i will assume US consular officials will be less than helpful

of course she must hope she is not on video renouncing her US citizenship

Consular help may not be possible quickly in the middle of a war zone, but her family may have access to resources that can help her in such a situation. A verbal renunciation may not be enough to revoke her citizenship rights, however.

 

[nahtanbob]

Consular help may not be possible quickly in the middle of a war zone, but her family may have access to resources that can help her in such a situation. A verbal renunciation may not be enough to revoke her citizenship rights, however.

It would be an interesting legal case if authorities deny her citizenship and she ever gets to file one challenging the authorities

 

[VCheng]

It would be an interesting legal case if authorities deny her citizenship and she ever gets to file one challenging the authorities

The law is pretty clear:

Elements of Renunciation

A person wishing to renounce his or her U.S. citizenship must voluntarily and with intent to relinquish U.S. citizenship:

1. appear in person before a U.S. consular or diplomatic officer,
2. in a foreign country (normally at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate); and
3. sign an oath of renunciation

Renunciations that do not meet the conditions described above have no legal effect. Americans cannot effectively renounce their citizenship by mail, through an agent, or while in the United States.

 

[nahtanbob]

The law is pretty clear:

Elements of Renunciation

A person wishing to renounce his or her U.S. citizenship must voluntarily and with intent to relinquish U.S. citizenship:

1. appear in person before a U.S. consular or diplomatic officer,
2. in a foreign country (normally at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate); and
3. sign an oath of renunciation

Renunciations that do not meet the conditions described above have no legal effect. Americans cannot effectively renounce their citizenship by mail, through an agent, or while in the United States.

in that case she gets to rot in maximum security prison for rest of her life

 

[VCheng]

in that case she gets to rot in maximum security prison for rest of her life

Only if she is tried and found guilty, and then sentenced depending on the verdict. She still has the rights (and responsibilities) of a citizen, including the right to a speedy and fair trial, if she is prosecuted.

 

[nahtanbob]

"After fleeing her home in suburban Birmingham in late 2014 and resurfacing in Syria, Muthana used social media to advocate violence against the United States."

that should be strong evidence

 

[VCheng]

"After fleeing her home in suburban Birmingham in late 2014 and resurfacing in Syria, Muthana used social media to advocate violence against the United States."

that should be strong evidence

Whatever the evidence against her, it can be presented in a court of law by due process.

 

[nahtanbob]

Whatever the evidence against her, it can be presented in a court of law by due process.

I am not denying her day in court. that would be as un-American it gets

 

[zectech]