New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern criticized Australia on Tuesday, accusing it of shirking its responsibilities by "unilaterally" revoking the citizenship of a woman detained in Turkey, who is alleged to have ties to ISIS.
Turkish authorities announced on Monday that they had arrested three New Zealanders, including a woman claimed to be a member of ISIS, as they attempted to enter Turkey illegally from Syria.
In her statement, Ardern noted that the woman held both New Zealand and Australian citizenship, but the Australian government had unilaterally revoked her citizenship. According to Reuters, Ardern added that it is not accurate for New Zealand to bear responsibility for the situation concerning a woman who had not lived in New Zealand since she was six years old; she had been living in Australia since then and traveled to Syria from Australia using her Australian passport.
She indicated to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, "We believe that Australia has abandoned its responsibilities regarding this woman, and I have made this point clear in person." Turkish authorities have identified the 26-year-old woman as a terrorist affiliated with ISIS. Ardern stated that the woman was traveling with two children, and she emphasized, "We will engage with Turkish authorities, and given the presence of children, their care will be our priority in dealing with this matter."
