Consider This from NPR: Children of ISIS Fighter Find New Life in Minnesota
Release Date: May 28, 2025
Host: NPR
Episode Title: Children of ISIS Fighter Find New Life in Minnesota
Introduction
In this emotionally charged episode of NPR's Consider This, listeners are introduced to the heart-wrenching and ultimately hopeful story of Ahmed and his wife, Moroccan immigrants residing in Minnesota. Their journey encompasses the disappearance of their son, Abdel Hamid, his involvement with ISIS, and the remarkable efforts to reunite the family, including the rescue of Abdel's children from Syrian detention camps.
The Disappearance and Radicalization of Abdel Hamid
[00:00 - 02:14]
Ari Shapiro sets the stage by recounting the unimaginable ordeal Ahmed and his wife faced when their 18-year-old son, Abdel Hamid, vanished during a family trip to Morocco in 2015.
- Ahmed: "He just woke up in the morning and then Abdel was not there. So looked for him everywhere in the house. We went from room to room, from floor to floor. We couldn't find him." [00:46]
Despite initial fears of an accident or unintentional disappearance, the Moroccan police disclosed that Abdel had likely joined a radical group. This revelation confirmed their worst fears: their son had become a member of ISIS, relocating from suburban Minneapolis to the heart of one of the world's most notorious terrorist organizations.
Abdel's Involvement with ISIS and Return to the United States
[03:09 - 07:37]
Sacha Pfeiffer delves into the broader context of American youth being radicalized online, lured by ISIS's enticing promises. Abdel's journey took him from Turkey to Iraq and Syria, where he not only became a soldier but also started a family, unknowingly leaving his parents as grandparents to children they had never met.
- Ahmed: "When we came back to the States, he gave us a call, actually, and then he said, I'm okay. Don't worry about me. Everything is okay." [04:15]
However, Abdel's communications ceased, leading to fears for his safety. It wasn't until a CBS News report in September 2019 that the family learned Abdel was imprisoned in Syria.
- Ahmed: "My son used to be this, this, this, and this is completely different." [06:02]
(Upon seeing Abdel in the CBS interview)
Abdel was eventually repatriated to the United States in 2020. Faced with prosecution, he admitted to his involvement with ISIS, labeling himself a traitor and expressing deep regret.
The Struggle to Reunite with the Grandchildren
[07:37 - 22:44]
The revelation that Abdel had children complicated the family's trauma. Determined to find their grandchildren, Ahmed and his wife reached out to former US Ambassador Peter Galbraith, leveraging his connections to Kurdish officials managing Syrian detention camps.
- Peter Galbraith: "I sent them photographs electronically prior to going there, along with the names, the dates of birth, the parents." [09:06]
After extensive efforts and three trips to Syria, Galbraith successfully identified and facilitated the safe return of Abdel's two young sons to the United States in May 2024.
- Ian Moss (State Department Official): "They certainly were scared. I think they were also just confused. They'd been on 20 some hours of flights and are now arriving at 3 o' clock in the morning at JFK to meet with grandparents that they'd only seen via video." [10:58]
The arrival of the grandkids marked a new chapter for Ahmed and his wife, bringing both joy and the challenges of integrating traumatized children into their lives.
Life After Reunification: Healing and Hope in Minnesota
[11:21 - 18:29]
Sacha Pfeiffer describes the family's adjustment period in Minnesota. The grandchildren, initially speaking mainly Arabic, began embracing their new environment, learning English, and engaging in typical American childhood activities.
- Ahmed's Wife: "English. Spiderman. Tom Jerry, Master Bean." [13:27]
The grandparents were committed to providing a nurturing environment, teaching the boys various skills and ensuring they felt loved and supported.
- Ahmed: "We feel younger." [16:31]
Ahmed's Wife: "I feel like I'm... rejuvenating." [16:25]
Despite the potential need for future counseling to address their past traumas, the family expressed immense gratitude and happiness over the reunification.
- Ahmed: "We feel relieved now. We got our kids back and we got our grandkids back. I mean, life is beautiful now, to be honest." [22:33]
Broader Implications: US Efforts to Retrieve Children from ISIS Camps
[18:29 - 21:46]
The episode broadens its scope to discuss the ongoing international efforts to evacuate children from ISIS detention camps. With approximately 35,000 individuals held in these camps, many of whom are children born or brought by their parents to Syria and Iraq, the humanitarian and security implications are profound.
- Ian Moss: "As long as these children remain in the camps, the international community faces a serious humanitarian and a potential future security problem." [19:01]
Peter Galbraith emphasizes the urgency of rescuing these children to prevent further radicalization.
- Peter Galbraith: "The older the children get, the more likely that they're going to buy into the ideology there. And that's why it is so urgent to get the children out, get them out at a young age." [19:50]
The United States continues to prioritize the retrieval of these children, advocating against punishing them for their parents' actions and highlighting the necessity of dismantling the camps to prevent future threats.
Conclusion: A Family Reunited and Looking Forward
[21:52 - 22:44]
Returning to Ahmed and his family's personal triumph, the episode highlights their aspirations for the future. They eagerly anticipate Abdel's release from federal prison, envisioning a fully reunited family under one roof.
- Ahmed's Wife: "I know America work hard to bring my grandkids. It's working hard for this. Thank you so much." [22:20]
Ahmed encapsulates the family's journey with heartfelt emotion:
- Ahmed: "We feel relieved now. We got our kids back and we got our grandkids back. I mean, life is beautiful now, to be honest." [22:33]
This story not only underscores the resilience and unwavering hope of a family torn apart by conflict and radicalization but also shines a light on the broader humanitarian efforts to protect innocent children from the ravages of extremist ideologies.
Production Credits:
Produced by Monika Evstatieva and Katherine Fink. Edited by Barry Hardiman and Robert Little with audio engineering support from Robert River Rodriguez. Executive Producer: Sami Yenigun.
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