A FAMILY TORN ASUNDER
Sadiq did not give up the search for his daughters and embarked on a failed attempt with Osman to kidnap them. At home in Norway, he maintained a fiction with the press that the girls were desperate to get out. On one occasion, he was accompanied by documentary makers, who were led to believe a rescue was imminent (to see the film, visit needtoknow.tv/onlyafather/). The truth was very different. The girls had always wanted to stay with Isis — as their messages to their brother testified. Both married Isis fighters and had baby daughters.
Osman once wrote to Sadiq, saying: “When they have children they will come to their senses.” They never did. In autumn 2016, the two sisters, their little girls and their husbands were living in an Isis collective with Norwegian, Swedish and British couples. After the fall of Raqqa last October, the girls and their children were still believed to be in Syria. We have no confirmation where the husbands are or whether they are alive.
EMOJIS FROM A WARZONE
The sisters kept in sporadic touch from Syria with their brother Ismael. These are some of their exchanges:
Ismael: Are you coming back? Like, ever?
Leila: We don’t know for sure, but we have no wish to … Don’t be sad, we’re not dead and we’re doing fine. Try to think positive. Think pink 🙂 Remember in the spring? You said I would NEVER do anything like this because I was too cowardly?’
Ismael: Yeah, you win. Can you come home now?
Leila: 🙂 <3
**************
Ismael: Hi. Happy you keep in touch
Ayan: Tell Dad to go home! It is not safe for him here!!
Ismael: Dad is not planning to come home. He says he would rather die down there
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Ismael: Did you send someone to kill Dad?
Ayan: Ismael, no we did not. The whole thing was a misunderstanding. How are you and the rest of the family? We don’t have much time so answer quickly!!!
Ismael: ARE YOU GETTING MARRIED?!!!! In Syria?
Ayan: I am married :). Go on Skype! Where are you?
Ismael: I’m at school. Don’t know whether to feel happy or let down
Ayan: The problem is everyone knows about our situation
Ismael: What do you mean??
Ayan: We didn’t send anyone to kill Dad … They thought he was a spy because of all the messages between him and the police
**************
Leila: Hi
Ismael: Oh my God! 🙂 <3 <3 <3 <3
Leila: Long time no see. What’s happening?
Ismael: You tell me. How’s it going?
Leila: I’m pregnant!
Ismael: Hahaha
Leila: 7 months! I have a big belly!’
Ismael: Everything else good?
Leila: The man of the house was wounded a few months back
