German girl who joined ISIS wants to leave Iraq, return to family
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Facing years in prison in Germany or a possible death sentence in Iraq, the 16-year-old girl from Pulsnitz who joined ISIS and was recently captured in Mosul by Iraqi security forces would like to return to her homeland.
"I just want to get away from here," Linda W. was quoted as saying by the South German newspaper (SDZ) on Sunday. "I want to get away from the war, from the many weapons, from the noise."
The girl currently in detention in Baghdad but in contact with German diplomats and media could face the death penalty in Iraq, in line with the country's counter-terrorism law.
Linda’s parents from the German state of Saxony reported their daughter missing last summer.
"I just want to go home to my family,” Linda said on Sunday, adding that she regretted joining ISIS and would cooperate with authorities.
Berlin has now officially confirmed to the SDZ that Linda and up to four other Germans are in the hands of the Iraqi army.
The Associated Press reported that 26 foreigners have been arrested in Mosul.
Linda married an Arab extremist man, who was killed shortly after her arrival to Mosul, according to the SDZ.
Another German daily Die Welt previously reported it had learned that the girl had converted to Islam, travelled by airplane from Frankfurt to Istanbul in Turkey and then journeyed into Syria, where she then joined ISIS.
"Even for the illegal crossing of the border, our juvenile justice law provides for up to three and a half years of imprisonment,” a prosecutor told SDZ.
The girl reportedly was wounded in her left thigh and right knee during an unspecified helicopter attack.
“I’m doing well,” she said.
"I just want to get away from here," Linda W. was quoted as saying by the South German newspaper (SDZ) on Sunday. "I want to get away from the war, from the many weapons, from the noise."
The girl currently in detention in Baghdad but in contact with German diplomats and media could face the death penalty in Iraq, in line with the country's counter-terrorism law.
Linda’s parents from the German state of Saxony reported their daughter missing last summer.
"I just want to go home to my family,” Linda said on Sunday, adding that she regretted joining ISIS and would cooperate with authorities.
Berlin has now officially confirmed to the SDZ that Linda and up to four other Germans are in the hands of the Iraqi army.
The Associated Press reported that 26 foreigners have been arrested in Mosul.
Linda married an Arab extremist man, who was killed shortly after her arrival to Mosul, according to the SDZ.
Another German daily Die Welt previously reported it had learned that the girl had converted to Islam, travelled by airplane from Frankfurt to Istanbul in Turkey and then journeyed into Syria, where she then joined ISIS.
"Even for the illegal crossing of the border, our juvenile justice law provides for up to three and a half years of imprisonment,” a prosecutor told SDZ.
The girl reportedly was wounded in her left thigh and right knee during an unspecified helicopter attack.
“I’m doing well,” she said.