BRESCIA -- A 30 year old Italian woman who was trying to make her way out to Syria to join rebel fighters linked to so-called Islamic State has been stopped in her Lombardian hometown.  She had reportedly converted to Islam and sports a full niqab after marrying a Tunisian migrant who was living in Italy in an islamic ceremony in 2010, they had also joined in a civil ceremony in 2015 that would give him the residency permit he wished for.

 The Brescian was reportedly convinced by her Islamic husband to leave Italy for Syria to join the fighting.  Police have been watching her after she expressed her wish to leave the country for the unstable territory on social networks on several occasions from the end of 2015.

 The General Investigation and Special Operations Division of the Brescia police force were the ones to take her into custody to prevent her from joining the fighting as it was alleged she would imminently be doing.  Chief Investigator Vincenzo Ciarambino said, "We managed to stop them before they left.  The woman, who is from a good family, in particular had shown an ever increasing radicalisation on social media.  The husband and wife were also in the process of getting a car in order that they could make the journey."  

Her husband, who was in the process of gaining his residency permit, has been exiled from Italy.  The woman in the meantime is being investigated for criminal intent of enlistment with the aim of terrorism and is under personal and house arrest.  Various documents have been seized, including papers for the intended expatriation which could have used to reach the Islamic State seat.

 jp-ch