‘Grave concern’ for Lisa and her child
UN RAISED CONCERNS FOR SAFETY OF DUNDALK WOMAN AND HER CHILD
UNITED Nations human rights experts have called on Turkey to ensure the ‘safety and security’ of Dundalk woman Lisa Smith and her daughter, who were transferred to Turkish custody following the bombing of the refugee camp in northeast Syria they were staying in a few weeks ago.
A former member of the Irish army, Lisa made headlines when it emerged she had travelled to Syria a number of years ago, and was reported to have married an ISIS fighter.
Having become a refugee, along with her young child, it remains unclear if and when there are plans to repatriate them.
But the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights this week raised the ‘grave concerns’ of a group of human rights experts, which includes rapporteurs on torture, arbitrary detention and violence against women.
In a statement, the UN High Commissioner’s office said ‘ the exact whereabouts of the mother and child are unknown.’
‘ The experts express concern that Ms. Smith may face ill-treatment in custody and strongly recommend she is given consular assistance and that she and her infant daughter are protected against any abuse while detained.’ They raised ‘grave concerns’ about the physical and mental health of Ms. Smith and her daughter.
‘ The vulnerability of this infant is particularly worrying and there is a compelling obligation to protect her well-being in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child to which Turkey and Ireland are both parties,’ the experts said.
They called for ‘ the basis for any detention be clarified, that access to adequate legal counsel be provided, and that interrogations are carried out in conformity with Turkey’s treaty obligations.’
The experts argued the need for ‘a thorough individual evaluation of each woman and child in compliance with international human rights law, including attention to any gender-based violence and persecution against women who return from Syria and Iraq.’