In a development that has raised serious national security concerns, a British woman who famously travelled to Syria as a teenager to join the Islamic State has quietly returned to the UK and is now living in London.
Zehra Duman, now 24, was just 17 years old when she left her family home in East London to become a so-called 'ISIS bride' in 2015. Her return to British soil has sparked intense debate about how the country should handle returning jihadists.
From London Schoolgirl to ISIS Bride
Duman's journey to terrorism began when she abandoned her studies at a London comprehensive school and travelled to Syria via Turkey with a friend. She married an Australian ISIS fighter and lived under the terror group's brutal caliphate for several years.
Security sources confirm she is now back in the capital and being closely monitored by intelligence agencies. The Metropolitan Police and MI5 are understood to be tracking her movements and assessing any potential threat she may pose to national security.
Security Services on High Alert
Counter-terrorism experts have expressed grave concerns about Duman's presence in London. Security minister Tom Tugendhat has previously warned that returning ISIS fighters and brides represent "a significant challenge" to public safety.
The case highlights the ongoing dilemma facing British authorities: how to balance civil liberties against the very real threat posed by individuals who have been immersed in terrorist ideology and warfare.
Growing Problem of Returning Jihadists
Duman is among hundreds of British citizens who travelled to join ISIS during the group's peak between 2014 and 2017. While many were killed in fighting or airstrikes, an estimated 150 have since returned to the UK.
Her presence in London raises urgent questions about:
- The effectiveness of current monitoring programmes
- The potential for radicalisation of others
- The adequacy of legal frameworks for prosecution
- Public safety concerns in urban centres
Security services continue to face the complex task of managing individuals who have returned from conflict zones while ensuring they operate within British law and respect human rights legislation.
