Washington: The father of a woman from Alabama, who left in November 2014 to join the Islamic State (IS) terror group, has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration over her American citizenship, seeking her return.
Ahmed Ali Muthana filed the lawsuit Thursday at a federal court here to prevent what he calls an ‘unlawful attempt’ by the US government to rescind his daughters citizenship, ‘CNN’ reported.
Hoda Muthana when she was 19 had travelled to Syria to join the IS. Five years later, Muthana has now said that she regrets what she did and wants to return to the US so that her baby has a protected and safe life. She has also stated that she is ready to face any legal action for her deeds.
President Trump tweeted Wednesday that he has directed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to allow Muthana back into the country. Pompeo declared the same day, in a statement, that Muthana is ‘not a US citizen and will not be admitted’ into the country.
Thursday’s lawsuit ‘seeks injunctive relief preventing the US government from unconstitutionally robbing (Muthana and her son) of their rights as US citizens’.
Ahmed Ali Muthana is requesting the court ‘find the US government has an obligation to assist in the return of its citizens from areas of armed conflict’.
The lawsuit was filed against Trump, Pompeo and Attorney General William Barr.
IANS