Evelyn T.: Mother in custody – what will happen to her little son?

Evelyn T.: Mother in custody – what will happen to her little son?

A dramatic return to Austria: Former IS supporter Evelyn T. and her seven-year-old son were recently dragged from Syria to Vienna, where a legal nightmare is now looming for the mother. Loud ORF The 26-year-old is being investigated for terrorist organization and criminal organization. She spent several years in the Al-Roj camp, a notorious camp for IS believers, before landing in Vienna on March 1, where she was immediately arrested because there was an arrest warrant from the public prosecutor's office.

The child's situation is worrying. The little boy was handed over to the care of the Vienna Child and Youth Welfare Department, where he reports that he cries a lot and is sad because his mother is not with him. However, he is currently showing no signs of radicalization The press reported. He is receiving psychological care in a special facility and has already found contact with other children, but the question remains as to what his future will look like and whether he can move in with his grandmother, who is willing to look after him.

Legal uncertainties and family issues

Evelyn T.'s defense attorney, Anna Mair, has filed a complaint against the pre-trial detention because she sees the court's decision as unjustified. After the arrest, it was decided that the mother would be detained due to the “risk of committing a crime,” and the Vienna Higher Regional Court will soon decide whether the detention will be maintained. Uncertainty about the legal framework contributes to the tense situation as their mother-child relationship hangs in the air. The boy's care will be reviewed in a "risk assessment" that could take several weeks.

Returning to a safe environment could be a game-changer for both mother and son. Evelyne T. has said that she hopes to be able to be with her son again soon, while the child and youth welfare authorities are aware of the child's difficult situation. However, the incidents raise numerous questions about the psychological consequences of years of internment that cannot go unnoticed.