S. was born in Pakistan to Somali parents and grew up in Canada. As a young woman, she joined ISIS and later escaped, using her experience to inform against the group. Our meeting takes place outside a tall apartment building in Western Canada. S. is smiling, dressed in a black shirt and jeans, inviting us inside to share her story. We are not revealing her real name or location out of concern for her safety due to her past experiences with ISIS.
S. faced a tragic event when her brother was killed by an acquaintance. Seeking solace, she turned to her Muslim faith, becoming more devout. This shift in her religious practice attracted unwanted attention. Her family was once attacked at the train station, sprayed with bear mace by strangers. Another incident on a train involved men making offensive comments, suggesting they feared an attack.
A Crucial Decision
After high school, S. enrolled in a religious boarding school in Canada. There, she met a returnee from Somalia associated with al-Shabab, a group linked to al-Qaida. The Somali woman advised S. to move to a Muslim country, leading to her first steps toward radicalization. Canadian authorities began monitoring her due to her associations.
Under pressure, S.’s parents asked her to leave home. In 2014, feeling pulled towards a Muslim nation, S. flew to Turkey. She was connected with smugglers in Istanbul and soon joined other ISIS recruits, traveling to Syria. What she believed would be a utopia turned into a nightmare. Upon arrival, she witnessed gruesome scenes such as executions, a tactic used by ISIS to spread fear.
S. was taken to a guest house near the Euphrates River, pressured to marry an ISIS fighter. Refusing all proposed matches, she plotted her escape with another Canadian woman. They fled, eventually reaching a house run by an al-Qaida-affiliated woman, who allowed them to make contact with family back home in Canada. Her family, already informed by Canadian authorities, pleaded for her return.
A New Life
Still trapped, S. married a Moroccan man to leave her unsafe situation, later giving birth to a daughter amidst bombings in Raqqa. Her husband’s behavior became abusive, and divorce seemed impossible. As ISIS’s stronghold in Raqqa crumbled, S. and her family fled south to Baghuz.
In Baghuz, she faced life-threatening situations, at one point narrowly escaping gunfire and a car accident. With the Kurds offering safe passage, S. chose to surrender, eventually ending up in the Al Hol camp with her daughter.
At the camp, S. took on the role of an informant, helping identify young girls being groomed by ISIS. Working undercover posed constant risks as any suspected informants faced deadly retribution.
S. contributed to the rescue of an American child, showcasing her growing resistance against ISIS ideologies. Eventually, she and her daughter found a route back to Kurdish authorities, thanks to assistance she provided to the Canadians and Americans.
With help from former U.S. Ambassador Peter Galbraith, her daughter returned to Canada. S. continued to provide information crucial for tracking ISIS affiliates. Although she parted from her daughter, she remained committed to a life away from extremism.
Now 35, S. has integrated back into Canadian life, working with clients on skincare and maintaining a low profile. Her story serves as both a cautionary tale and a testament to change through collaboration with authorities.
As we conclude, S.’s daughter, now a fourth grader, joins us. Showing typical childhood enthusiasm, she shares her interest in science, dreaming of becoming a scientist or astronaut. Happy and safe, she embodies a future free from the past’s shadows.