Given Yemen’s track record, there is always some question of how hard authorities are really trying to combat jihadists on their soil, as opposed to trying to achieve the minimum amount of looking busy. But this report does fit the pattern of Muslims from other countries (particularly European ones) traveling abroad for jihadist training. “Yemen: Foreigners investigated for Al-Qaeda links,” from AdnKronos International, June 3:
Sanaa, 3 June (AKI) – An Australian mother was among several foreigners arrested by Yemeni on suspician of having links to Al-Qaeda. According to the Arab TV network, al-Arabiya, British, French and American citizens were also arrested on security concerns as the country steps up action to fight the terror group.
Thirty-year-old Australian mother of two Shyloh Jayne Giddins was arrested in Sanaa two weeks ago and the Australian government on Thursday urged Yemen to allow her two young children to be flown home.
The Sydney woman had her passport cancelled eight weeks ago for national security reasons, according to Australian media reports.
Giddins, who has lived with her children – Amina, 4, and Omar, 7 – in Yemen since 2006, was interviewed by the country’s National Security Bureau on 14 May and arrested two days later in the capital, Sanaa.
Since then her children have remained under house arrest and her lawyers have expressed concern about their safety.
Yemeni authorities have refused to say what charges Giddins, a Muslim convert, may face or how long she may be detained….