Days After Trump Urged Europeans to Receive ISIS Returnees, US says Alabama woman can't return!

By: Yassmine ElSayed

CAIRO, Feb. 20 (SEE) - Few days passed since US President Donald Trump urged European countries to receive and prosecute ISIS returnees of those carrying their nationalities, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that an Alabama woman who left for Syria to join ISIS is not a U.S. citizen and will not be allowed to return to the United States.

In a brief statement that gave no details as to how the determination was reached, Pompeo said Hoda Muthana, who says she made a mistake in joining the group and now wants to return with her 18-month-old son, has no "legal basis" to claim American citizenship.

"Ms. Hoda Muthana is not a U.S. citizen and will not be admitted into the United States," Pompeo said. "She does not have any legal basis, no valid U.S. passport, no right to a passport nor any visa to travel to the United States."

Muthana's status had been considered by lawyers from the departments of State and Justice since her case arose, where Pompeo's statement was based on the lawyers' conclusions.

The 24-year-old, who joined the Islamic State after becoming radicalized, says she regrets aligning herself with the terrorist organization and wants to return to the United States, her attorney Hassan Shibly said on Tuesday. He said Muthana is putting herself at risk by speaking out against ISIS from a refugee camp where she has lived since fleeing the group a few weeks ago.

Muthana, who dodged sniper fire and roadside bombs to escape, is ready to pay the penalty for her actions but wants freedom and safety for the son she had with one of two IS fighters she wed, he said. Both men were killed in combat.

In a handwritten letter released by Shibly, Muthana wrote that she made "a big mistake" by rejecting her family and friends in the United States to join the ISIS.

Ashfaq Taufique, who knows Muthana's family and is president of the Birmingham Islamic Society, said the woman could be a valuable resource for teaching young people about the dangers of online radicalization were she allowed to return to the United States.

"Her coming back could be a very positive thing for our community and our country," Taufique said.

On Sunday, President Trump urged European countries to take back and out on trial hundreds of ISIS european members captured in Syria.

Here is what he said: