Arrested Nottingham mum has links to al-Qaeda, say Syrians

A NOTTINGHAM mother who has been detained in Syria for two months has been accused of being involved with al-Qaeda.

Maryam Kallis, who lived in Whitemoor before moving to Damascus, was arrested in the Syrian capital in March in front of her eight year-old son.

Her husband, Nottingham-born Masood Kallis, has not heard from her since and denies the allegations made by the Syrian Embassy.

Another British national, Yasser Zahur Ahmed of East London, has also been detained.

A spokesperson for the Syrian Embassy said: "The interrogations indicated that both Ms Kallis and Mr Ahmed are working for a terrorist network related to al-Qaeda organisation and the members of the network were also arrested by the Syrian authorities."

They also say that Ms Kallis is involved in receiving funds from her husband, who is now living in London, and in conveying money to the terrorist network.

Mr Kallis said: "These are unfounded allegations and our solicitor is thinking about taking libel action against the Syrian ambassador. We're very disappointed, it's gone from bad to worse, we're very seriously concerned about her [Maryam's] welfare and safety.

"Syria has a reputation for torture and we're really distraught."

Maryam and Masood lived in Nottingham from 1994 to 2002, and their children went to school here.

In 2002 they went out to Damascus to learn Arabic. The British citizens intended to stay for one year, but stayed longer because they thought the climate was better for their daughter who suffers from achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism.

Mr Kallis moved back to the UK over a year ago and his wife was planning to return when she was arrested.

Three of their children are still in Damascus, staying with Mrs Kallis' sister who is also living there.

Representatives from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office were permitted to see Mrs Kallis on April 8. On May 6 they made a further request to visit her and are awaiting a reply

Last Friday, Foreign Secretary David Miliband intervened directly after being lobbied by Milan Radulovic, a Broxtowe Borough councillor.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: "The situation will only be fully clear with the detainees either by being formally charged or released.

"In the interest of the detainees themselves we look for this to happen as soon as possible."

The statement from the Syrian Embassy adds: "Ms Kallis is involved in receiving funds from her husband Mr Massoud Ahmad (who resides in the UK ) and in conveying the funds to the above mentioned network. The investigation with the members of the network is still going on."

But their spokesperson could not confirm why they called her husband Massoud Ahmad instead of Masood Kallis.

Coun Radulovic, leader of Broxtowe's Labour group, said: "They should release Maryam Kallis immediately, unconditionally, unless they are prepared to charge her with a recognisable offence and allow her full and proper access to the law for justice. Over the years in Syria, they have arrested hundreds of people every year and subject them to torture."

An online petition has been set up to free Maryam at http://www.petitiononline.com/mk150309/petition.html