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Leaving Islamic State - Leonora’s Life Back in Germany

August 5, 2022

At the age of 15, Leonora Messing secretly left her home in Saxony-Anhalt. She’d planned her journey down to the last detail, traveling via Turkey to Syria.

https://p.dw.com/p/4EyTs
DW-Dokumentation " Leonora – Einmal IS-Terror und zurück"
Image: NDR
DW-Dokumentation " Leonora – Einmal IS-Terror und zurück"
Image: NDR


She had her heart set on marrying an IS fighter - a man she had never even met before. She joined the Islamic State terror organization and married IS intelligence officer Martin Lemke, who was also from East Germany.
 

DW-Dokumentation " Leonora – Einmal IS-Terror und zurück"
Image: NDR


Years of horror began - a life-and-death struggle. Leonora’s father, Maik Messing, a baker from the southern Harz region, did all he could to get his daughter out. He suddenly found himself in touch with traffickers and talking to Al Qaeda -- a previously inconceivable scenario. He was fighting for his daughter’s life and gripped by constant fear; at one point he thought she might even be dead.

DW-Dokumentation " Leonora – Einmal IS-Terror und zurück"
Image: NDR

After seven years, she returned to Germany. After a short spell in prison, she was eventually put on trial. Readjusting to life back in her home country was a challenge for Leonora and her family. Her traumatic experiences haunt her. A team of reporters documented this moving story about guilt, blame and second chances.

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WED 21.09.2022 – 01:15 UTC
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