Two Belgian female jihadists escape from Syrian camp

Two Belgian female jihadists escape from Syrian camp
© Belga

Two women originally from Antwerp, who are trained to carry out terrorist attacks, escaped from Al-Hol camp in Syria, VTM Nieuws and Het Laatste Nieuws reported on Friday from "various sources."

According to the two Flemish media outlets, the women are likely to be in Turkey and have not yet been arrested. 

Several Belgian jihadists in the northeast of Syria had escaped during the Turkish attacks in the area. According to a note delivered in October to the House by the Threat and Analysis Coordination Body (OCAM), there is uncertainty concerning at least 15 Foreign Terrorist Fighters, among which four women who had been condemned in absentia in Belgium for terrorism.

Among these women are Kaoutar Bioui, 32, and Rahma Benmezian, 31, according to Het Laatste Nieuws and VTM. The first, a native of Mechelen, is the wife of Hassan Chaib, a former leading member of Sharia4Belgium who was seen in an Islamic State video showing the execution of a prisoner. The second is the elder sister of Fatima Benmezian, the woman from Borgerhout who was recently arrested in Turkey. 

Both reportedly fled the Al-Hol camp several months ago, probably thanks to money raised by European supporters of the Islamic State. Nobody knows for sure where they are now, but "there are strong indications that they are in Turkey and still free", according to Het Laatste Nieuws sources.

The Brussels Times


Copyright © 2024 The Brussels Times. All Rights Reserved.