The government has successfully brought back a mother and her 14-year-old daughter who had been stranded in Turkiye after reportedly attempting to join the war in Syria.
Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan announced the news during a press briefing at the President’s Office, confirming that the duo are now receiving specialised rehabilitation at the National Reintegration Centre (NRC) in Hinmafushi, Kaafu Atoll.
The repatriation follows direct orders from President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who has prioritized the return and reintegration of Maldivian nationals, including families, from war-affected regions in Syria.
The Minister revealed that while working to bring back around 60 Maldivians from two conflict zones in Syria, authorities received intelligence about three Maldivian citizens who had traveled abroad with intentions to join the fighting in Syria before entering Turkiye.
Turkish authorities detained the group and coordinated with Maldivian officials for repatriation. Of the three, a mother and her child have since been brought back to the Maldives and are currently in the Himmafushi centre, the Minister revealed. The NRC, equipped with 24-hour monitoring, therapy rooms, and multidisciplinary support services, provides psychological, social, and religious rehabilitation tailored for both children and adults.
Since the beginning of 2024, the Maldives has repatriated 21 individuals — including 15 children — from five families detained at the Syria-Turkiye border.
One family has already completed rehabilitation and been successfully reintegrated into society, signaling progress in the government’s broader efforts to address the aftermath of foreign conflict involvement and ensure national security.