Published 15:10 IST, November 10th 2019
US-born Islamic State bride appeals again to come home from Syria
A US-born woman who says she regrets having joined the IS group has appealed again to come home from Syria where she lives with her son in a refugee camp.
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A US-born woman who says she regrets having joined Islamic State group has appealed again to come home from refugee camp where she lives with her small son in Syria. government is refusing to let Hoda Muthana return to US, arguing that she is t an American citizen.
Regrets decision
In an interview with NBC News published Saturday, Muthana said she "regrets every single thing" done by IS, which she joined in 2014 after embracing extremist ideology while living with her family in Alabama.
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"Anyone that believes in God believes that everyone deserves a second chance, matter how harmful ir sins were," Muthana said.
interview was conducted in rast Syria at Al-Roj refugee camp, controlled by Kurdish forces, where Muthana lives with her two-year-old son am. Muthana said she fears for her life because she could be targeted by people at camp who have t reunced IS. "I did t support beheings from (IS) from day 1, until w I do t support any of ir crimes and suicide attacks," Muthana said.
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Citizenship of children of US-based foreign diplomats
US government has repatriated several American women linked to group, along with ir children, but t Muthana. Washington argues she is t a US citizen even though she was born in US because she is daughter of a diplomat serving for Yemeni government at time. children of US-based foreign diplomats do t enjoy citizenship by birthright. Muthana has filed suit to try to return to US. She h traveled to Syria on a US passport.
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"I am a citizen and I have papers to prove it. I am as American as a blond-haired blue-eyed girl and I would like to stay in my country and do American things," Muthana told NBC.
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All husbands died in combat
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called her a terrorist. Muthana married three IS fighters, all of whom died in combat. She took part actively in IS propaganda, according to Counter Extremism Project. She h urged jihists in America to "go on drive-bys, and spill all of ir blood."
Muthana also hailed an attack in 2015 in France against offices of magazine Charlie Hebdo, which left 12 people de. In interview with NBC she said "it was an ideology that really was just a phase." She refused to discuss those earlier comments. She said she is willing to face US justice system if she is allowed to return.
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14:45 IST, November 10th 2019