Norway party quits government in 'jihadist-wife' row

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Norway's Progress Party leader Siv Jensen. Photo: 20 January 2020Image source, Reuters
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Siv Jensen's Progress Party had six ministers in the coalition government

Norway's right-wing Progress Party is quitting the government over a decision to bring home from Syria a woman suspected of affiliation to the Islamic State (IS) group and her two children.

"I brought us into government, and I'm now bringing the party out," said party leader, Siv Jensen, who is also resigning as Norway's finance minister.

PM Erna Solberg said her centre-right coalition would stay on as a minority.

The woman and her family returned to Norway on Saturday.

The government had earlier said it would help in their repatriation so one of the woman's seriously ill children could get medical treatment.

The name of the woman has not been released.

She is reported to have been brought up in a Norwegian-Pakistani family in Oslo.

Image source, Getty Images
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A number of IS spouses and their children have been brought back to Europe

In 2013, she left Norway to live in the territory held by the IS group.

The decision to allow her back into Norway had triggered heated debate.

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Quentin Sommerville visits the al-Hawl camp in Syria