Trans-Tasman stoush over Kiwi Isis suspect

The arrest of a claimed Isis terrorist with a New Zealand passport and two young children has turned into a major trans-Tasman stoush, as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern lambasts Australia for unilaterally ‘‘exporting its problems’’.

A 26-year-old woman and her children were detained by

Turkish authorities near the border of Syria yesterday. The woman was described as a wanted Isis terrorist and a New Zealand citizen.

Ardern said the woman had been a New Zealand and Australian dual-citizen, until the Australian government unilaterally cancelled her citizenship.

She said Australia had ‘‘abdicated its responsibilities’’, something which she raised directly with Prime Minister Scott Morrison more than once.

‘‘It is wrong that New Zealand should shoulder the responsibility for a situation involving a woman who has not lived in New Zealand since she was six, has resided in Australia since that time, has her family in Australia and left for Syria from Australia on her Australian passport.’’

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said yesterday it was his job to protect Australia’s interests.

‘‘It’s my job as the Australian Prime Minister to put Australia’s national security interests first. I think all Australians would agree with that.’’

He said Australia had legislation which automatically cancelled the citizenship of a dual citizen who had engaged in terrorist activity.

A lot remained unknown about the case.

‘‘But Australia’s interest here is that we do not want to see terrorists who fought with terrorism organisations enjoying privileges of citizenship.’’

The woman was deemed wanted through an Interpol blue notice. A blue notice asks that a police force ‘‘collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a crime’’.

A video published by

a daily newspaper in Turkey, reportedly showed the family in custody. The woman was wearing a dark blue burqa.

National Party foreign affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee said New Zealand had maintained a watchlist of people who had ‘‘exhibited sympathies’’ towards Isis.

‘‘There are others who we know who have travelled to the Middle East, who did join Isis and, if this person turns out to be one of those, they will of course face the full weight of the Turkish justice system.’’

He said New Zealand had an obligation to its citizens ‘‘who meet all of the requirements of being a New Zealand citizen’’.

‘‘One of those is that you do not engage in terrorist activities, either domestically or internationally.

He said he did not know who the woman was, or what she had done, though he received confidential briefings on national security matters as Opposition foreign affairs spokesman.

‘‘What’s the old saying? Children shall not be held accountable for the sins of the parents ... But this is difficult. It’s not easy to navigate your way through this.’’

Australia has ‘‘abdicated its responsibilities’’. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern