ISIS recruit Shamima Begum is reportedly waiting for an opportunity to escape a jihadi camp as Syrian government forces advance into regions housing numerous tent cities.
Former British schoolgirl Begum was observed moving among closed stalls selling various items while wearing a mask resembling those worn during the Covid pandemic. Stripped of her British citizenship, Begum is among about 2,000 female and child captives held at the Al-Roj detention camp.
She is part of a group of 15 British or dual-national women still residing at the camp as Syrian government troops make headway into territories controlled by Kurdish forces. While US forces are working to relocate approximately 7,000 male prisoners to Iraq, no recent communication has been reported with Americans regarding the fate of the large female detainee population at the camp.
According to other female detainees, there is a belief that Begum and several other women are anticipating an opportunity to flee the camp amid the ongoing offensive. The camp manager, Hekemiya Ibrahim, mentioned that Begum rarely speaks or ventures outside, but signs suggest that some women are prepared to leave as their bags are packed.
Women in the camp possess contraband phones allowing them to stay in touch with other ISIS sympathizers globally. Many detainees are hopeful for a resurgence of the extremist Islamist movement, particularly after the downfall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in 2024.
Despite fears of retaliation from the new Syrian government due to its conflict with ISIS, some detainees express a desire to leave. One anonymous woman stated, “Get me out of here,” acknowledging the mistake they made and their willingness to face the consequences.
The camp also accommodates radicalized women, like Umm Hamza, an Egyptian woman previously married to an ISIS fighter, who highlighted the presence of dangerous individuals within the camp. She mentioned the need to disguise herself in certain areas to avoid being targeted as an infidel.
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