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Police 'knew of risk Bradford women would follow brother to Syria' Police 'knew of risk Bradford women would follow brother to Syria'
(about 1 hour later)
Police in Bradford investigating the disappearance of three sisters and their nine children knew before they left the UK that their brother had gone to Syria and believed they were at risk of following him, it has emerged.Police in Bradford investigating the disappearance of three sisters and their nine children knew before they left the UK that their brother had gone to Syria and believed they were at risk of following him, it has emerged.
Balaal Khan, a lawyer acting for two of the sisters’ husbands, said that West Yorkshire police had already been investigating the whereabouts of the sisters’ brother, who went to Syria two years ago to fight a group opposed to Bashar al-Assad’s regime.Balaal Khan, a lawyer acting for two of the sisters’ husbands, said that West Yorkshire police had already been investigating the whereabouts of the sisters’ brother, who went to Syria two years ago to fight a group opposed to Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Asked whether police were only now investigating the brother’s disappearance or were aware that he had left before the other 12 went missing, Khan said: “I believe it is an ongoing investigation from before.”
The three women – Khadija, Sugra and Zohra Dawood – were reported missing by two of their husbands last Thursday after failing to return on a flight from Saudi Arabia. The sisters and their children are believed to flown to Istanbul, Turkey, and are feared to be travelling to Syria, having made no contact with the UK.The three women – Khadija, Sugra and Zohra Dawood – were reported missing by two of their husbands last Thursday after failing to return on a flight from Saudi Arabia. The sisters and their children are believed to flown to Istanbul, Turkey, and are feared to be travelling to Syria, having made no contact with the UK.
One Bradford councillor, who asked not to be named, told the Guardian that they believed that the North East Counter Terrorism Unit (NECTU) had been closely monitoring the family, British Pakistanis who follow an ultra-conservative form of Islam.One Bradford councillor, who asked not to be named, told the Guardian that they believed that the North East Counter Terrorism Unit (NECTU) had been closely monitoring the family, British Pakistanis who follow an ultra-conservative form of Islam.
In a statement on Tuesday the NECTU said it was keeping an “open mind” as to the family’s whereabouts, but added that “the possibility of the family attempting to travel to Syria is being explored”. It would not comment on any prior contact it had with the women or their children.In a statement on Tuesday the NECTU said it was keeping an “open mind” as to the family’s whereabouts, but added that “the possibility of the family attempting to travel to Syria is being explored”. It would not comment on any prior contact it had with the women or their children.
Khan spoke after two of the missing women’s husbands issued a tearful appeal for their families to return home, amid conflicting reports of whether or not one or both were estranged from their wives.Khan spoke after two of the missing women’s husbands issued a tearful appeal for their families to return home, amid conflicting reports of whether or not one or both were estranged from their wives.
Two local councillors suggested some or all of the Bradford-born sisters were in unhappy arranged marriages with men from Pakistan.Two local councillors suggested some or all of the Bradford-born sisters were in unhappy arranged marriages with men from Pakistan.
But at an emotional press conference in Bradford on Tuesday, Akhtar Iqbal and Muhammad Shoaib, husbands of the youngest and eldest sisters, insisted they loved and missed their wives and begged them to return.But at an emotional press conference in Bradford on Tuesday, Akhtar Iqbal and Muhammad Shoaib, husbands of the youngest and eldest sisters, insisted they loved and missed their wives and begged them to return.
The two men appeared tired and shaken as they held a press conference in Bradford seven days after their families severed contact with them and boarded a flight from Saudi Arabia to Istanbul instead of returning home.The two men appeared tired and shaken as they held a press conference in Bradford seven days after their families severed contact with them and boarded a flight from Saudi Arabia to Istanbul instead of returning home.
Iqbal wept as he pleaded for his wife Sugra Dawood, 34, and their five children, aged three to 15, to call him.Iqbal wept as he pleaded for his wife Sugra Dawood, 34, and their five children, aged three to 15, to call him.
“Please contact me and please, please call me,” he said. “It’s been eight, nine days you have been out and we don’t know where you are. We miss you. I love you. All of you, I love you a lot. I can’t live without you.”“Please contact me and please, please call me,” he said. “It’s been eight, nine days you have been out and we don’t know where you are. We miss you. I love you. All of you, I love you a lot. I can’t live without you.”
Shoaib echoed his brother-in-law’s sentiments as he addressed his wife, Khadija Dawood, and their two children – Maryam, seven and Muhammad, five.Shoaib echoed his brother-in-law’s sentiments as he addressed his wife, Khadija Dawood, and their two children – Maryam, seven and Muhammad, five.
“Please come back and contact me. I’m not angry, I’m not angry, I’m not fine, please come back, everything is normal. Come back to normal life please. They’re young kids,” he said. He repeatedly described his marriage as “perfect”.“Please come back and contact me. I’m not angry, I’m not angry, I’m not fine, please come back, everything is normal. Come back to normal life please. They’re young kids,” he said. He repeatedly described his marriage as “perfect”.
The other missing sister is Zohra Dawood, 33, and her children Haafiyah, eight, and Nurah, five. Her husband is currently in Pakistan, the family lawyer said.The other missing sister is Zohra Dawood, 33, and her children Haafiyah, eight, and Nurah, five. Her husband is currently in Pakistan, the family lawyer said.
The women were born and raised in Bradford. According to Alyas Karmani, a local councillor for the Respect party, their parents originally came to Yorkshire from a Pashtun community in north-west Pakistan, near the border with Afghanistan.The women were born and raised in Bradford. According to Alyas Karmani, a local councillor for the Respect party, their parents originally came to Yorkshire from a Pashtun community in north-west Pakistan, near the border with Afghanistan.
Pashtuns are associated with a strict interpretation of Islam, such as adherence to gender segregation and insistence on women covering their heads.Pashtuns are associated with a strict interpretation of Islam, such as adherence to gender segregation and insistence on women covering their heads.
The family were devout Muslims, the family said. Zohra is said to have held evening classes on the Qur’an in her house, while one of the older children appears to have created a website to share his views on Islam and regularly shared sermons from Islamic scholars on his Facebook page.The family were devout Muslims, the family said. Zohra is said to have held evening classes on the Qur’an in her house, while one of the older children appears to have created a website to share his views on Islam and regularly shared sermons from Islamic scholars on his Facebook page.
Neighbours of Zohra painted a picture of a private and polite woman whose marriage had broken down. They said Zohra was distraught by her brother’s decision to join militants in Syria more than a year ago.Neighbours of Zohra painted a picture of a private and polite woman whose marriage had broken down. They said Zohra was distraught by her brother’s decision to join militants in Syria more than a year ago.
Oota Khan, 74, who lived next door, said: “Sometimes she was missing him and crying about the brother. When her brother went, he did not discuss it with the family … Maybe some friends told him to go, but he did not discuss it or get information from the family. They are not happy also.”Oota Khan, 74, who lived next door, said: “Sometimes she was missing him and crying about the brother. When her brother went, he did not discuss it with the family … Maybe some friends told him to go, but he did not discuss it or get information from the family. They are not happy also.”
He suggested the brother had originally gone to Syria more than a year ago, following the Arab spring, before the rise of Islamic State, or Isis.He suggested the brother had originally gone to Syria more than a year ago, following the Arab spring, before the rise of Islamic State, or Isis.
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he used to send his children to Zohra’s house on evenings where they would learn about the Qu’ran. “She spoke broad Yorkshire, like me,” he said. “Father was a really nice guy but couldn’t speak much English.”Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said he used to send his children to Zohra’s house on evenings where they would learn about the Qu’ran. “She spoke broad Yorkshire, like me,” he said. “Father was a really nice guy but couldn’t speak much English.”
Karmani said the sisters attended Arabic education classes in Bradford and were good students. “I spoke to someone who went to classes with them and they said the girls were really into their studies, very intelligent and always paid their course fees. They were very decent, apparently. I asked if they were ever talking about foreign policy or things like that, but apparently not. This whole thing doesn’t seem planned. There was nothing that indicated they were going to abscond.”Karmani said the sisters attended Arabic education classes in Bradford and were good students. “I spoke to someone who went to classes with them and they said the girls were really into their studies, very intelligent and always paid their course fees. They were very decent, apparently. I asked if they were ever talking about foreign policy or things like that, but apparently not. This whole thing doesn’t seem planned. There was nothing that indicated they were going to abscond.”
On social media Ibrahim Iqbal, 14, the second eldest of Sugra Dawood’s five children, revealed himself to be a typical young British teenager.On social media Ibrahim Iqbal, 14, the second eldest of Sugra Dawood’s five children, revealed himself to be a typical young British teenager.
Ibrahim and his elder brother Junaid Ahmed, 15, attended Dixons Kings academy in Bradford where last week Vincent Uzomah, a science teacher, was stabbed in the stomach during the first lesson of the day.Ibrahim and his elder brother Junaid Ahmed, 15, attended Dixons Kings academy in Bradford where last week Vincent Uzomah, a science teacher, was stabbed in the stomach during the first lesson of the day.
In pictures on Facebook, Ibrahim is seen dressed in Nike clothing and grinning with friends at a theme park, or taking selfies in school uniform. He has liked the pages of boxers Amir Khan, Floyd Mayweather and Muhammad Ali, and shared posts from the humour website Uni Lad.In pictures on Facebook, Ibrahim is seen dressed in Nike clothing and grinning with friends at a theme park, or taking selfies in school uniform. He has liked the pages of boxers Amir Khan, Floyd Mayweather and Muhammad Ali, and shared posts from the humour website Uni Lad.
But the posts also show a young man interested in religion and his heritage. Using another term for Pashtun, his profile picture says “I am Pathan, we don’t keep calm”, in the style of the “Keep calm and carry on” poster. He also posted regular sermons from Islamic scholars, a picture of a Palestinian flag, and a photoshopped image of Marlon Brando in an Islamic prayer cap, with the caption “The Godlover”.But the posts also show a young man interested in religion and his heritage. Using another term for Pashtun, his profile picture says “I am Pathan, we don’t keep calm”, in the style of the “Keep calm and carry on” poster. He also posted regular sermons from Islamic scholars, a picture of a Palestinian flag, and a photoshopped image of Marlon Brando in an Islamic prayer cap, with the caption “The Godlover”.
Zulfi Karim, secretary of the Bradford Council for Mosques, advised caution before jumping to conclusions of where the women had gone and why.Zulfi Karim, secretary of the Bradford Council for Mosques, advised caution before jumping to conclusions of where the women had gone and why.
“Something about this just doesn’t add up to me,” he said. “How would these women have been able to enter Saudi Arabia without their husbands or an adult male family member to act as a ‘mahram’ [male familial chaperone]?”“Something about this just doesn’t add up to me,” he said. “How would these women have been able to enter Saudi Arabia without their husbands or an adult male family member to act as a ‘mahram’ [male familial chaperone]?”
Two of the missing children are boys aged 14 and 15: it is disputed among Islamic scholars whether they would have been old enough to be a mahram.Two of the missing children are boys aged 14 and 15: it is disputed among Islamic scholars whether they would have been old enough to be a mahram.
Karim said the police had some explaining to do. “If their brother is already in Syria then surely the police and the Prevent team in Bradford – who are very, very active – would have been monitoring them?”Karim said the police had some explaining to do. “If their brother is already in Syria then surely the police and the Prevent team in Bradford – who are very, very active – would have been monitoring them?”