{"id":3858,"date":"2015-02-22T20:55:38","date_gmt":"2015-02-22T20:55:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/?p=3858"},"modified":"2015-02-22T20:55:38","modified_gmt":"2015-02-22T20:55:38","slug":"come-home-families-beg-uk-schoolgirls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/index.php\/come-home-families-beg-uk-schoolgirls\/","title":{"rendered":"Come home, families beg UK schoolgirls"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Shamima\"<\/a>The families of three British schoolgirls feared to be traveling to join the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria issued emotional appeals for them to come home.
\nClose friends Kadiza Sultana, 17, and 15-year-olds Shamima Begum and Amira Abase left their east London homes on Tuesday and flew to Istanbul.
\nTurkey is a key entry point for those seeking to travel to Syria.
\nPolice believe the three girls \u2014 all of whom are academic high achievers \u2014 were following the example of a friend who fled to join IS terrorists in December.
\nBritish media reported that the girls had been interviewed by police about where their friend had gone but were not considered at risk of leaving the country themselves.
\nAbase\u2019s family agreed that she could be identified for the first time Saturday in the hope of securing her safe return.
\n\u201cYou are strong, smart, beautiful and we are hoping you will make the right decision,\u201d they said in a statement issued by police. \u201cPlease return home.\u201d
\nSultana\u2019s family described how they were feeling \u201ccompletely distressed\u201d and that her departure had been \u201ca complete nightmare.\u201d
\n\u201cWe miss you terribly, especially Mum, and things have not been the same without you,\u201d they said.
\nBegum\u2019s family added that Syria was \u201ca dangerous place and we don\u2019t want you to go there.\u201d
\n\u201cWe understand that you have strong feelings and want to help those you believe are suffering in Syria,\u201d the family said. \u201cYou can help from home, you don\u2019t have to put yourself in danger.\u201d
\nThe girls flew to Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight from London\u2019s Gatwick airport.
\nCounter-terrorism experts estimate that around 50 women have traveled from Britain to Syria to join the IS group, which has captured swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.<\/p>\n

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