Six Kazakh Women in Iraqi Prison Request Help

Six Kazakh women have been serving life sentences in a Baghdad prison for eight years after being convicted of aiding terrorism. However, human rights activists argue that their trials were flawed, with no legal representation provided. The women are now appealing to the Kazakh authorities for help, Orda.kz reports.

They Fooled Us, Promised a Better Life

Marziya Medetova recalls that her daughter, Roza Mansurova, converted to Islam after marrying her husband.

Initially, the family did not interfere. But when Rosa started covering herself, her mother became concerned.

I had a bad feeling. People started pointing fingers… I warned her, but they were already too deep into it. I begged them not to involve the children, Medetova says.

In 2013, Roza and her family left Kazakhstan, claiming they were moving to Russia.

After an extended period with no contact, Roza revealed they were in Iraq.

I fainted. I had a stroke. They would reach out occasionally. When they got there, they were given new names. Before Iraq, they were in Türkiye and Syria. She stayed at home; I don’t know what her husband did, and I didn’t ask if he was fighting or not. I don't even want to talk about him. My focus was on my grandchildren. They sometimes showed them to me over video calls, she recalls.

According to Medetova, her daughter and son-in-law moved to a Muslim country to avoid judgment from others.

Once there, Roza realized the reality was far from what they had imagined and wanted to return, but her husband wouldn’t allow it. She also claimed their documents were confiscated.

They fooled them. They were promised a good life. She didn't tell me anything at all. I talk to her a lot, and now we're in touch. I scold her, and she cries: ‘Mom, I always wanted to come home. You can ask the kids. Please forgive me,' Medetova says.

Roza lived in a conflict zone for four years. Her husband was reportedly killed. Now, he is listed as missing, and Roza was arrested and sentenced for aiding terrorism.

At the time of their departure from Kazakhstan, Roza and her husband had three children.

The eldest later passed away, but they had another daughter. In 2019, Kazakh authorities repatriated the children, who now live with their grandmother.

Because of everything that happened, I blame myself for not raising my daughter properly. And I blame her, too. I did not understand her. I simply did not understand. I said: 'How could you leave without even telling me?' There was not even a hint that they were planning to. But they did make passports for the children, so it was clearly planned,  Medetova says.

Roza's mother's only wish is for her daughter to return and reunite with her children.

We Need to Push for a Sentence Review

Five other Kazakh women remain imprisoned in Iraq.

While their return seems exceptionally complex, human rights activist Zhanna Umirova, head of the “Air of Freedom” foundation, has been providing them with humanitarian aid for years.

In late 2024, she took on the mission of trying to bring them home.

They’ve been in prison for eight years, and their voices haven’t reached our government or our president. Our Foreign Ministry doesn’t even have the court verdicts. Since October 2024, we’ve been actively working to review their cases. Sadly, we cannot reach the authorities,  Umirova says.

Official requests and meetings with authorities have yet to yield results.

During a meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev, I told that they won’t survive long in these conditions,she adds.

Umirova insists that reviewing their sentences is crucial.

I’m in contact with Iraqi lawyers, but they require a consular power of attorney for me to represent the women before the authorities in Kazakhstan and Iraq, she explains.

She acknowledges that the women made a grave mistake but emphasizes that they remain Kazakhstan's citizens.

They all left while being young. They followed their husbands. In any case, they are our citizens,she added. 

Extradition Seems Unlikely

In response to Orda.kz’s inquiry, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry stated that in 2018, Iraqi authorities sentenced six Kazakh women to life imprisonment for aiding terrorism and being affiliated with Daesh (ISIS*), a group banned in Kazakhstan.

Since receiving official notice of the convictions in November 2019, the Kazakhstan Embassy in Jordan has been working to protect the women’s rights.

Under Iraqi law, the charges exclude the possibility of amnesty or extradition to Kazakhstan. Nevertheless, Kazakhstan continues negotiations with Iraq regarding their possible return,the ministry stated.

Despite the challenges, the government successfully repatriated the women’s minor children in 2019 as part of a humanitarian operation called “Rusafa.”

In 2023, reports emerged that the women went on a hunger strike in prison.

Original Author: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova

* Terrorist organization recognized as extremist in Kazakhstan: ISIS (Islamic State, by decision of the court of the Yesil district of Astana dated October 15, 2015)