'It was the opposite of what they promised': Mum tells of fleeing ISIS ‘hell’ in Syria
A radicalised woman who escaped the Islamic State after moving to Syria with her husband describes the hell of being a prisoner in her home.
Laura Passoni, 30, worked at a Belgium supermarket when she met Osama Rayan, of Tunisian origin, who she later married.
The mother of two told the Daily Mail she fell in love with Mr Rayan before converting to Islam and agreeing to move with him back to Tunisia, then eventually to Syria.
The pair lived in al-Bab, near the city of Aleppo, with their child and Miss Passoni’s four-year-old son from a previous relationship, between 2014 and March 2015.
“I went there voluntarily and willingly, I converted to become a Muslim and then I was radicalised, and I became convinced that the caliphate was only place for me and my family to live.
“Once I got there though I really got to know the meaning of terror.”
Miss Passoni said she realised the promises the Islamic State made were a lie and she was forbidden to do anything aside from take care of the home and her children.
She said she was never treated violently but felt like a prisoner and was only allowed to leave the house when she was dressed in a burka and with her husband.
“I was not forced to become a Muslim, I was persuaded. You just get washed away, like trying to stand against a waterfall.
“I could not leave the house or use the internet without the presence of a man.”
The mother said she feared her children would be taken away and made a plan to flee.
“It was just the opposite of what they promised in the propaganda of the Caliphate. I decided I wanted to escape when I realised there was a very real risk my son might end up a terrorist.”
The woman said life under ISIS meant there were no taxes to pay and health care was free.
“But life there was very expensive, and the money were not enough.”
She secretly communicated with her parents via text message on a mobile phone she managed to acquire, who helped her escape via Turkey.
Details of her escape have not been disclosed to prevent endangering others, but some Belgian media reports suggest negotiations between Belgain authorities and jihadists in Turkey who acted as intermediaries.
Miss Passoni was arrested and fined $22,300 (15,00 Euros) with five years' probation and banned from using all social media networks.
Social workers removed her children for three months, before placing them with their grandparents.
“I accepted the punishment. To be honest it was a relief compared to the hell that I went through in Syria,” Miss Passoni said.
The children have recently been returned to their mother after an exhaustive inquiry by Belgian social workers.
Miss Passoni now campaigns against ISIS and warns other young women of the dangers of moving to Syria and living under ISIS.
She recently shared her experience at a public meeting in Brussels’ notorious jihadi safe haven of Molenbeek, saying:
“My advice to young women is if you are considering it, don't do it.”
