Dutch woman contacts consulate 2 weeks after ISIS escape
The Dutch consulate in the Iraqi city of Erbil had personal contact with Laura H. - a Dutch woman who escaped from the ISIS caliphate with her two kids two weeks ago, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. "We talked to her face to face, she and her two children are doing relatively well and she indicated that she wants to go to the Netherlands", a spokesperson for the Ministry said to Dutch newspaper AD.
Laura had to ask for help herself, the spokesperson explained "Because sometimes it turns out that someone, contrary to what the family wants, does not want to go back. But we've heard it from her own mouth. And we are going to help her." It is unclear exactly when she will come back to the Netherlands.
Two weeks ago the 21-year-old Laura H. unexpectedly appeared on Kurdish television, telling a story of how she and her children escaped from terrorist organization Islamic State. According to her, her husband Ibrahim tricked her into going. Laura is currently still in the hands of the Kurdish fighters who helped her to escape. She is still being questioned to make sure her story is true, according to AD.
In the meantime, more information surfaced about Laura's husband Ibrahim Ismail. According to the newspaper, Ibrahim is 27-years-old and lived in Alkmaar before marrying Laura and moving to Leidschendam with her.
He studied at the Islamic University Rotterdam and has a child from a previous marriage. Both Laura and neighbors of the couple claim that he abused her. Ibrahim was wounded during Laura's escape and was left behind in ISIS territory.
