WELLINGTON, 16 February, 2021 (TON):  On Tuesday, Jacinda Ardern New Zealand’s Prime Minister accused Australia of quitting its responsibilities by unilaterally canceling the citizenship of a woman detained in Turkey that alleged to be linked to Syria.

On Monday, the Turkish authorities said that three New Zealanders, including a woman, have been caught trying to enter Turkey illegally from Syria.

Ardern told the media that the woman had held New Zealand and Australian citizenship, but the Australian government unilaterally canceled her citizenship.

 “New Zealand, frankly, is tired of having Australia exporting its problems,” Ardern said. “If the shoe were on the other foot we would take responsibility, that would be the right thing to do and I ask Australia to do the same.”

Australian Prime Minister Morrison in response said,  “My job is Australia’s interests. That’s my job. And it’s my job as the Australian Prime Minister to put Australia’s national security interests first. I think all Australians would agree with that.”

He said he was scheduled to speak with Ardern today and added that legislation passed in parliament automatically cancels the citizenship of a dual citizen accused of being engaged in terrorist activities.

Ardern said her government has an obligation to its citizens regardless of the circumstances or offenses committed, and that decisions would be driven by the fact that two small children “who did not make the choice of being born in a war zone” were involved.

“We will be engaging with the Turkish authorities, and given there are children involved, their welfare will be top of mind in our response,” she said.

Precisely, this case of the woman has been known to both the authorities, Australian and the NZ for some time however, it got negative eyes over it when Australia stripped the woman of her citizenship, which NZ consider a wrong decision.